Sikkim: Bhaichung Bhutiya Announces Merger of HSP with SDF

GANGTOK: Former footballer Bhaichung Bhutiya has announced the merger of his political party Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) with the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF). The Sikkim Democratic Front was founded by former chief minister of the state Pawan Kumar Chamling.

“We have decided to merge the HSP with the SDF. Discussions are in progress and it will happen in due course,” Bhaichung Bhutia said recently announcing the merger.

The Hamro Sikkim Party was floated by the former footballer in 2018, ahead of the legislative assembly elections in the state in 2019. The party floated a total of 22 candidates for the polls, but none of them managed to win. The party then backed the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) which replaced the Sikkim Democratic Front in the 2019 state elections. But later on, Bhaichung Bhutiya became very critical of both the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha and the chief minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay).

He went on to say that the current government under Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) has failed to meet the aspirations of the public and the state wants a change in the upcoming polls. He also appreciated the efforts of the Pawan Kumar Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front for its efforts as the opposition to raising the concerns of corruption in the government.

Meanwhile, it will be very interesting to see the effects of this merger in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly as well as the Lok Sabha elections which are less than a year ago.

The state has a total number of 32 seats in the state assembly, out of which the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha has a majority of 19 seats, while its coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party has 12 seats. The opposition party Sikkim Democratic Front has only one seat. The state has only one Lok Sabha seat, but it has immense importance due to the strategic position of the state near China.

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