Sikkim Municipality Elections 2021

Election Observers appointed, Model Code of Conduct in force
GANGTOK,: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday notified the elections for the seven urban local bodies in Sikkim. With this, the model code of conduct has come into force in Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Namchi Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayats of Singtam, Rangpo, Nayabazaar-Jorethang, Geyzing and Mangan.
Nomination by candidates will end on March 8 while polling is scheduled on March 31. Counting of votes would take place on April 3, as per the SEC.
There are 81,941 voters and 91 polling stations for the seven municipal bodies. Gangtok Municipal Corporation with 19 wards has 55,119 voters. (See box)
East district Municipal Election Returning Officer (MERO) Ragul K. informed that no nomination was filed today for the three civic bodies of the east district. All arrangements for receiving nominations have been done at the MERO office, he said.
Similarly, no nominations were received on the first day before the MERO (south) M. Bharani Kumar in south district and the MERO in north district.
As per a 2020 legislation, the Sikkim municipalities elections will be non-party based. ‘No person shall contest the election to any municipality with the support, direct or indirect of any political party,’ the amended clause reads.
Meanwhile, the SEC has also appointed seven senior government officials as Election Observers to oversee the election process and smooth conduct of the elections.
Social Welfare secretary Tshewang Gyachoo is the Election Observer for all the 19 wards of Gangtok while Excise secretary Kuber Bhandari has been appointed as the Election Observer for the Nagar Panchayats of Rangpo and Singtam.
Sikkim Housing & Development Board secretary C.K. Chettri is the Election Observer for Namchi Municipal Council and Jorethang-Nayabazaar Nagar Panchayat.
Horticulture secretary M.T. Sherpa and OBC Commission secretary D.B. Rawath have been appointed as Election observers for Gyalshing Nagar Panchayat and Mangan Nagar Panchayat respectively.
Ecclesiastical secretary Norgay Dawa Bhutia has been appointed as a reserve Election Observer.