The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party released its first list of 18 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in the State on Friday.
The first list of the ruling party candidates has 10 new faces including four women.
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SDF party president Pawan Chamling will contest the election from two seats – Namchi-Singithang and Poklok Kamrang in South Sikkim while NK Subba from Maneybong-Dentam; KS Lepcha from Rinchenpong; GM Gurung from Temi-Namphing; Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia from Tumin-Lingee and DT Lepcha from Gnathang-Machong and Pintso Chopel Lepcha from Gangtok are also repeating this time.
The ruling party has announced names of four new women candidates – Dechen Ongmu Bhutia from Yuksom-Tashiding, Dhan Kumari Kami from Salghari-Zoom, Pharwanti Tamang from Melli and Raj Kumari Thapa from Rangang-Yangyang in its first list.
Other new faces of the party are LM Sharma from Gyalshing-Bermiok, Pem Norbu Sherpa from Daramdin, Birjan Tamang from Namthang-Rateypani, Em Prasad Sharma from Namcheybong, GT Dhungel from Upper Tadong and Pintso Namgyal Lepcha from Dzongu.
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The first list of the ruling party was released during a press conference here at SDF Bhawan on Friday.
On the occasion, SDF party spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP PD Rai read out the names of 18 candidates of the party in the first list.
He informed that the second and final list of the party candidates will be announced before March 18.
Responding to media queries, SDF party spokesperson Bhim Dahal mentioned that the election campaigning of the party has been going on in war-footing and now the party workers will start door-to-door campaigning from Saturday more rigorously across the state.
It was informed that party president and Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling was starting a unique door-to-door election campaigning from Lall Bazaar Gangtok to Namchi in South on Saturday morning.
Responding to queries on SKM announcement on no alliance with BJP, Dahal expressed that the party was surprised that how BJP is in the Centre, which always claims to be clean and corruption-free and not to have any connection with convicted, can have an alliance with a regional party which has been leading by a convicted person in a corruption case.
“We think that the central leadership of BJP did not know about SKM party and after knowing the fact the central leadership must have rejected the alliance to protect its image. SKM party is just doing drama as always,” he said.
He expressed that it must be BJP which has rejected the alliance and not SKM.
On queries on the release of the first list of candidates of Hamro Sikkim Party, Mr Dahal stated that HSP does not have even 32 members so it cannot able to give all 32 candidates in this election.
On the release of the election manifesto of the party, PD Rai mentioned that the election manifesto will be released very shortly. He added that the election manifesto of SDF party will be a historic and it will take Sikkim to the next level in terms of development and agenda and looking into the aspiration of youths as well. He added that SDF was on the field to save Sikkim and to ensure its presence continue in the national and international level.
SDF spokesperson KT Gyaltsen mentioned that there was no more political wave this time in East Sikkim like 2014 election and the political graph of SKM party has gone down totally.
He added that SKM party has already lost the hope and aspiration of the people this time.
Gyaltsen mentioned that SKM’s attempt to forge alliance with BJP reveals the weakness in the leadership in SKM party and further shows there was no any policy, programme and principle in the party.
He also stated that SKM was fighting a battle without captain as the party president, PS Golay cannot contest the election as per the law and he will be disqualified during the nomination process.
Gyaltsen expressed that SDF party will be successful again in 2019 under the leadership of Pawan Chamling as the policy, principle and programme of the party have been in the interests of Sikkim and its people since inception.
“We will contest the election with our motto SDF is for Sikkim and Sikkimese People forever and we will clean sweep all 32 seats and Lok Sabha seat in this election,” he said.