SKM Wins Sikkim Bypolls Uncontested

KUNAL RAI

Krantikaris set to achieve their ‘Bateesh Ma Bateesh’ target

SORENG/NAMCHI,: Ruling SKM is poised to win the Soreng-Chakung and Namchi-Singhithang bypolls uncontested as the opposing SDF candidates withdrew their candidatures on Tuesday. After the bye-election formalities end, the SKM is set to achieve its 2024 election target of winning all the 32 Assembly seats.

With the CAP Sikkim candidates’ nomination papers already rejected, the SKM candidates Aditya Golay (Soreng-Chakung) and Satish Chandra Rai (Namchi-Singhithang) remain the lone candidates in their respective constituencies.

The last date for withdrawing nomination papers was October 30.

At Soreng, SDF candidate Prem Bahadur Bhandari withdrew his nomination papers by submitting the relevant form to the Returning Officer.

Similarly, SDF candidate Daniel Rai withdrew his candidature before the Returning Officer in Namchi.

Speaking to the media, Bhandari maintained that he withdrew his nomination and resigned from the SDF as the party and its leadership did not extend any support to him for the bye-election.

“I tried to reach the party leaders but their phones were either switched off or out of reach. Our party president who is self-sufficient financially and politically went missing during the crucial time leaving me and the voters of Soreng-Chakung nowhere,” said Bhandari.

Wanted to contest & break vote records: Aditya

After hearing the news of the SDF candidate's withdrawal, Aditya Golay spoke with the media from his residence in Soreng. He stated, "The SKM party workers were quite confident that I would go uncontested, that we might not have to go through the electoral process, but I was more on the side of contesting the elections. As in the general elections we had secured 10,480 votes for our party president PS Golay, we were quite confident we would break that record. It is quite unfortunate we were unable to break that record. In the future, even if I am not contesting, we will ensure the next candidate breaks that record".

On the withdrawal of SDF candidate, Aditya opined, "As soon as I heard that SDF candidate Prem Bahadur Bhandari withdrew his candidature, I believe that it is individual stand and opinion, as he is also from the same village and constituency. I think he wants to come with us, he wants to join our programmes and policies for the development of Soreng Chakung in the near future".

On his approach for his constituency for the next five years, Aditya said, "I will systematize all the work done in the past 5 years in the constituency, we have done a lot of work but they are done systematically. A system where there is a health board, advisory board, board for everything where we can get the beneficiary list. All the benefits for the public should not come from the MLA. The public need not come to the legislator for the littlest of things. I am sure the public will support me to bring this systematic change".

Aditya also inclined his address focusing on youth development, he said, "We will have to grow with the youth, because the demands we have right now will not be the same in the next 15 to 10 years. So we will have to engage with the youth, what their demands are, we will have to work on their demands. So actively I want to work with the students and the youth in the coming days".

No support from party leadership, says SDF candidate

At Namchi, SDF candidate Daniel Rai shared that he was also withdrawing his nomination due to the alleged indifference shown by the SDF leadership.

“After the bye-elections were announced, I was telephonically informed by the party leadership to file my candidature from the SDF party. I was also asked to visit the SDF head-office with all the documents which I did and filed my nomination. After clearing the scrutiny process, I visited the SDF party president’s residence here where I received a cold response,” said Rai.

Rai maintained that he found no support from the youth workers and leaders of the SDF.

“As a candidate, I felt there was no importance given to me. There were no supporters and no financial support while our party leader was busy touring Nepal and attending functions there. This forced me to withdraw my nomination,” said Rai.

Meanwhile, SKM candidate Satish Chandra Rai is set to take oath as a legislator from Namchi-Singhithang after 25 years of being in active politics.

After 25 years of my political career, I am being elected as a MLA, that too in an uncontested manner, said Satish to reporters at Namchi. He had contested in 1999 as a Sikkim Sangram Parishad candidate for the Lok Sabha seat.

Satish thanked Chief Minister & SKM president PS Golay, former MLA Krishna Rai, party functionaries and workers for their support that led to his uncontested victory.

“We were well-prepared for the campaigning but the opposition candidate withdrew his nomination for reasons best known to him. We had neither threatened nor pressured the opposition candidates in any form as anyone can contest elections in a democracy,” said Satish.

Regarding his plans for Namchi-Singhithang, Satish said: “We will work on priority for strengthening drinking water supply, sewerage and drainage of Namchi bazaar. Similarly, we will work jointly with the panchayats and councillors and visit each ward for preparing a DPR. Works will be initiated in each ward as per their requirement.”