Victory confirmed this election, SKM preparing for 2029 polls: Golay

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK,: Chief Minister & SKM president PS Golay on Monday took his ‘Vijayee Bhava: Jan Sabha’ election campaign to the voters of Gangtok, Shyari, Arithang, Upper Burtuk and Upper Tadong constituencies with a public meeting at Kazi Khet, Sichey near Gangtok.

In his address to the gathering, Golay reiterated his confidence that the SKM’s electoral victory is certain in 2024, adding that the party is already preparing for the 2029 Assembly elections. We are sure about winning all the 32 seats in the 2024 election and are actively working for the 2029 election, he said.

He promised to field 12 women candidates in the 2029 polls after the delimitation in 2026 where the Sikkim Legislative Assembly’s strength is expected to increase to 40 seats.

“The SKM believes in true women empowerment and this time, our party has fielded four women candidates. After delimitation, the number of women seats will increase to 12 as there will be an increase of constituencies to 40,” said the SKM president.

Present at the SKM election rally were Lok Sabha candidate Indra Hang Subba and the candidates for the five constituencies.

Sikkim goes for simultaneous Assembly and Parliamentary polls on April 19.

Golay assured the Gangtok district populace that the SKM would meet their developmental and other requirements if the SKM is elected to the government again. Support us with your votes and we will do the rest, he said. He highlighted the various welfare schemes and developmental achievements of the SKM government in the State capital during its five-year tenure. The ropeway project from Ranipool to Gangtok has been approved to tackle the traffic congestion and the Bypass road is presently being strengthened with latest cemented technology with a 20-year guarantee, he said. Same technology will be extended to other roads in coming days, he added.

Golay maintained that the SDF, during its five terms in government, could not resolve the immigrant tag on Sikkimese Nepali which was removed by the SKM government within 27 days of such a reference in the Supreme Court judgment. He added that the SDF is again making false promises to lure votes from the people.

In his address, SKM Lok Sabha candidate Indra Hang Subba expressed that people of Sikkim are fully aware of dedicated work done for them by the SKM government and progress made by the State government.

“The SKM government under the vision of Chief Minister and party president PS Golay has worked on the development of Sikkim and the public is well aware of the sacrifices and hard work of the SKM government. They have taken the decision to vote for the SKM in the upcoming election and give a landslide victory for the party in all the constituencies and the Lok Sabha seat,” he said.

Indra Hang mentioned that the SDF, which ruled Sikkim for 25 years, is now stressing on ‘Sikkim Bachao’ when they did nothing in their past government. “SDF should be well aware that the janta is not the same anymore as they are mentally and physically forward. Since SKM formed its government, the Covid pandemic hit, but still the SKM government worked day-in and night for the welfare of Sikkim during the global pandemic. Where was former Lok Sabha MP PD Rai then? Nobody saw him as he was busy travelling to Delhi and looking after his NGO. PD Rai was the one who supported the Citizenship Amendment Bill then, only because he wanted to save SDF party president Pawan Chamling, despite knowing it would hamper Article 371F,” said Indra Hang.

Indra Hang, also the sitting Lok Sabha MP, maintained that the SKM government has treated all communities equally, while recording that he constantly raised the pending demands of Sikkim in the Parliament.