GANGTOK: The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has staked claim to form the next government after it swept the state assembly polls by winning 31 out of 32 seats. Prem Singh Tamang, the incumbent Chief Minister of Sikkim and leader of the SKM party has won the elections from the Rhenock Assembly seat.
Tamang defeated Som Nath Poudyal by over 7,000 votes. The Sikkim Chief Minister received 10,094 votes while Poudyal got 3,050 votes. The Chief of SKM Tamang met the Governor and staked claims to form the next government.
Tamang fought the Assembly polls from two seats and won both. His wife Krishna Kumari Rai also won the polls by defeating the opposition candidate Bimal Rai from the Namchi-Singhithang assembly segment. Krishna Kumari Rai received 7907 votes winning the polls by a margin of 5,302 votes.
Five-time former Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling had been trailing behind the ruling party SKM's candidate Bhoj Raj Rai as per the latest trends in the counting of votes. He was looking to win a record ninth-term win from the Poklok-Kamrang assembly constituency but lost the elections. Meanwhile, the opposition party Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won only one constituency this time. BJP, Congress and Citizen Action Party-Sikkim (CAP-S) who fought polls separately failed to open their accounts.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated Tamang and SKM for their overwhelming victory. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), "Congratulations to Sikkim and CM Prem Singh Tamang for their victory in Sikkim Assembly Elections 2024. I look forward to working with State Government to further progress of Sikkim in coming times."
In response CM Tamang thanked Prime Minister for support. "Thank you for your kind words and support, Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi Ji. We are committed to continuing efforts towards development and prosperity of Sikkim. We look forward to collaborating with you to achieve our shared goals. For betterment of our state. Your unwavering support has been driving force for us. We look forward to your continued guidance and blessings" Tamang replied.
The elections in Sikkim were held on April 19. Vote counting commenced at 6 AM on Saturday. This significant victory for SKM follows their narrow win in 2019 assembly polls. They secured 17 seats narrowly defeating opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).
Also Read: Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang thanks PM Modi for ‘unwavering support’ (sentinelassam.com)
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