It was an emotional farewell for outgoing chief minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling, on Saturday when he left office amid crying supporters.
Chamling had been the country’s longest serving chief minister for any State since independence.
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Also read: Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling resigns
On Saturday, Supporters bid a tearful farewell after his party Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) lost the Assembly elections results of which were declared on May 23 last.
Chamling’s SDF could manage to win 15 seats as against the 17 MLAs of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM in the 32-member Assembly.
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Also read: Sikkim: SKM all set form new government ending 25 years of Chamling rule
On Saturday, people started gathered at the chief minister’s official residence at Mintokgang as the outgoing chief minister Pawan Chamling prepared to vacate it and move to his native home at Ghurpishey in Namchi.
Many of his supporters were seen sobbing while offering him the traditional khadas (scarf) as a token of respect.
Pawan Chamling held his last cabinet meet and meetings with other top bureaucrats before tendering his resignation to Governor Ganga Prasad earlier on Friday.
Also read: Sikkim: Pawan Chamling’s record sixth term in office not to be smooth ride
It may be mentioned that Chamling is the second Chief Minister in India after Jyoti Basu, of West Bengal to govern a state five terms in a row, with his party Sikkim Democratic Front winning the 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly elections. His party first came to power in Sikkim after winning the 1994 assembly elections. His popularity kept soaring in Sikkim due to his developmental work and for maintaining peace.
Also read: Sikkim: Has anti-incumbency factor caught up with Chamling?
Chamling was included in the World Book of Records for being the longest serving Chief Minister of any Indian State by World Book of Records, London.
Also read: Pawan Chamling feted by World Book of Records for longest serving Chief Minister
Chamling was bestowed with the certificate of record by the officials of World Book of Records at the official residence of the Chief Minister at Mintokgang in Gangtok during the month of July last year.