Guwahati: The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) on Sunday retained power in the Himalayan state for the second consecutive term by a landslide victory, winning 31 seats in the 32-member assembly.
The Opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which ruled the state for 25 years in a row till 2019, could manage only one seat, though its president Pawan Kumar Chamling lost in the two constituencies he contested.
SKM president and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, however, won from two seats, and the party bagged 58.38 per cent of the votes polled. The SKM fought the 2024 Assembly elections alone as the BJP decided to break the alliance with it.
Elections to the Assembly were held simultaneously with the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 19.
Former football star Bhaichung Bhutia lost his sixth election since 2014, this time on an SDF ticket from the reserved Barfung constituency to Rishal Dorjee Bhutia of SKM by 4,346 votes.
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha supremo Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday gave credit for the party’s landslide victory in the Assembly election in the state to the hard work of the SKM cadre and the trust of the people in his government.
“It is because of the love and trust of the people which we have managed to secure in the past five years in government. Besides, party cadres worked very hard. Now we have the next five years to give our 100 percent for the people of Sikkim,” he said at a gathering in Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.
Tamang won from both Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies that he contested.
In 2019, the SKM had won 17 seats and unseated the Sikkim Democratic Front party (SDF) which ruled the state for 25 years in a row.
The BJP and Congress had fielded candidates for the elections in the northeastern state.
The SKM and SDF fielded 32 candidates each, while the BJP had 31 candidates. The Congress contested in 12 seats, and the Citizen Action Party-Sikkim had candidates in 30 seats.
In 2019, the SKM, led by Prem Singh Tamang, won 17 seats, while SDF secured 15 seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Tamang and the SKM for the victory.
Congratulations to SKM and CM @PSTamangGolay for their victory in the Sikkim Assembly Elections 2024. I look forward to working with the State Government to further the progress of Sikkim in the coming times, Modi said in a post on X.
Responding to the Prime Minister's post, Tamang thanked him.
We are committed to continuing our efforts towards the development and prosperity of Sikkim. We look forward to collaborating with you to achieve our shared goals for the betterment of our state.
Your unwavering support has been a driving force for us, and we look forward to your continued guidance and blessings, Tamang said in an X.
