SKM confident of third consecutive victory from Arithang constituency

GANGTOK,: The ruling SKM on Saturday held its Arithang constituency-level public meeting here where the party senior functionaries urged the local voters for a third consecutive mandate from this constituency.

“Arithang is a fort of the SKM. The people of Arithang made our candidate victorious in 2014. They suffered a lot of hardships and victimization from 2014 to 2019 but they did not back away. They maintained faith in our party president PS Golay and again made our candidate victorious in 2019. The SKM hugely respects the people of Arithang for their support and faith and there is no doubt of a landslide victory for SKM from this constituency in the coming election,” said SKM spokesperson Jacob Khaling.

He was addressing the gathering of SKM workers and local public of Arithang constituency during the constituency-level meet which had Education minister KN Lepcha as the chief guest and area MLA-Speaker Arun Upreti.

Khaling maintained that the SKM government led by Chief Minister PS Golay has done inclusive development during these five years where every section of the Sikkimese society have progressed and prospered.

“The SKM is coming to the people asking for votes this election with its report card. We will seek your votes based on the achievements of our government. People have faith in Golay and will give a ‘Solid SKM’ mandate to us in all the 32 Assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat,” said the SKM spokesperson.

Addressing the gathering, Education minister KN Lepcha shared his happiness on the unity of Arithang residents, and urged them to extend all support and cooperation to the area MLA who has worked hard for the constituency’s development. The gathering today shows that Arithang has an able leader and there is brotherhood and unity in the constituency which must be maintained for the constituency’s overall development, he said. He urged the local residents to keep away from certain elements in Arithang constituency who are misleading the public for their personal gain.

Lepcha highlighted the exemplary achievements of the SKM government for the development of Sikkim and its people. We are confident that the people will value the works done by the SKM government and give us a resounding victory in the 2024 election in all the 32 Assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat, he said.

Similarly, area MLA Arun Upreti, also the Speaker and SKM general secretary, highlighted the developmental works completed in the Arithang constituency to meet the local requirements. He stressed that the age-old problems of power supply, water supply and road conditions of the constituency have been adequately addressed during this term of the SKM government. He added that ample multi-crore funds have been sanctioned by the Chief Minister for permanent solution of the water and power supply issues for Arithang constituency besides creation of more parking lots.

The issues faced by the residents of Deorali and Nam Nam, and traders of Lall Bazaar have also been addressed by our government, said Upreti. Those who were in the past government did nothing for Arithang and its issues during their term and are now making allegations, he said.

The Arithang legislator along with Khaling strongly defended the upcoming 14-storied West Point Mall in the constituency, which has been described as a “ticking bomb for Arithing people’ by the former Arithang ward councillor. They explained that the project was built in a PPP mode using superior technology and lightweight materials that can withstand major earthquakes also. They highlighted that the mall would not only create ample employment opportunities for local residents but also address the car parking issue in main Gangtok town and generate revenue for the State government.