Sikkim: SDF announces three candidates for upcoming October by-polls

Pawan Kumar Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has anunced its candidates for upcoming Sikkim by-polls on October 21 for three assembly seats. During meeting, party's parliamentary board has cleared candidature of Moses Rai from Poklok-Kamrang constituency, Nuk Tshering Bhutia from Martam-Rumtek and Rinzing Ongmu from Gangtok seat, an official statement claimed on Saturday. By-polls were required after MLAs who h contested two Assembly seats vacated one. While SDF bagged Poklok-Kamrang and Martam-Rumtek constituency seats earlier this year, ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) secured a seat in Gangtok.

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BJP ties up with SKM

Bharatiya Janata Party, which did t secure any seats in  Sikkim Assembly elections earlier this year, has decided to tie up with ruling SKM in state for by-polls which will be held on October 2. BJP's Sikkim in-charge Nitin Navin said on Sunday that two parties have decided to work toger to speed up development in border state with BJP contesting by-polls from Gangtok and Martam-Rumtek constituency, while ruling SKM will contest for Poklok-Kamrang seat.

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Boost for BJP Party

Assembly elections were held in State simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections in April.  SDF party, which h ruled Sikkim for five successive terms between 1994 and 2019, suffered a major loss post elections, with 10 of its 13 MLAs joining BJP and two ors switching over to SKM. Ram Mhav, national secretary of BJP, claimed that more than two-thirds members of SDF wanted party to be merged with BJP and hence national party w has a chance to govern Sikkim. SDF party has 15 seats in Sikkim Legislative Assembly with one leer contesting from two constituencies, which gets number of members to 13. With 10 legislators joining BJP, SDF w stands deserted with just one or two members.

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''I welcome all those who have joined BJP today. SDF is opposition in Sikkim. w that parties have come toger, BJP can take up constructive opposition in state. Under guidance of party president Amit Shah and JP Nda, ten legislators have been accepted to BJP'', Mhav said.

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(With PTI inputs)