The people of Sikkim will be voting in non-partisan Panchayat and Municipal elections after nearly three decades.
This has been possible due to the change implemented last year in the Sikkim Municipalities Act, 2007 by the State Government.
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“The main objective for bringing back the ‘party-less’ Municipal and Panchayat election was to remove fear from the minds of people, thereby opening the gate for good, clean, and educated people becoming an active part of the political system,” the Sikkim Government said.
In 2020, the Sikkim Government amended the Sikkim Municipalities Act,2007.
The amendment resulted in abolishment of the party based Municipal and Panchayat Elections.
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In Sikkim, 50% seats in Municipal and Panchayat bodies are reserved for women.
Unlike previous elections, a new trend is emerging.
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Many women candidates are contesting from seats which are not reserved for them.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said, “In a democracy, people should not be afraid of the government instead consider themselves as part of it. This non-partisan election was one of the major promises that Sikkim Krantikari Morcha Government had made to the people of the state in its election manifesto. And we are proud that we were able to keep it. With this change we hope that more individuals would consider joining and building the state together.”
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang added that he is delighted to see such a promising response, especially from the women of the state.
Elections to Municipal boards and Panchayat bodies in Sikkim would be held on Wednesday.