Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling, seeking his sixth straight term, has launched his campaign. He boarded a taxi from here to Namchi in solidarity with the drivers’ fraternity highlighting their role as “ambassadors” of the state.
He was joined throughout Saturday by thousands of enthusiastic volunteers in the car rally which took off from Lal Bazaar, in the Gangtok city centre, and covered Ranipool, Sintam, Mamring, Namthang and Bhanjyang, before culminating in Namchi.
Chamling began the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party’s campaign for the upcoming legislative assembly election by launching “SDF Pariwar”, a mass contact initiative through which will directly connect the party with people across the state and enroll them as members.
As part of the programme, the chief minister knocked on the doors of 10 households in Namchi, interacting with people, seeking feedback on the government’s work and understanding their aspirations.
The campaign was simultaneously launched by founder members of the SDF across the state at 500 locations.
As part of the SDF Pariwar, the party will mobilise 15,000 SDF Pariwar Sahyodhas (“SDF Pariwar Ambassadors”) to reach over 1,00,000 households in a span of 10 days, establishing direct connect with 4,00,000 people.
The Sahyodhas will call on the voters in their homes across the state to seek support, solicit feedback on the work done by the SDF government over the past 25 years and obtaining their support to ensure sustained progress of the state.
Election to the 32-member Sikkim Assembly is being held along with the Lok Sabha election on April 11.