Sikkim Democratic Front announced the name of its candidates for the upcoming state by-polls on October 21. Sikkim will see the by-elections for three of its assembly seats.
The names were cleared by the party’s parliamentary board on Saturday. According to the board’s decision, Moses Rai will contest from Poklok-Kamrang constituency. Rinzing Ongmu will fight from Gangtok seat while Nuk Tshering Bhutia will contest from Martam-Rumtek constituency.
By-polls in the state has been necessitated as the seats from these three constituencies fell vacant. The sitting legislators had contested from the two seats. After winning from both the seats, they vacated ones. Earlier in the elections held this year, SDF had won the Poklok-Kamrang and Martam-Rumtek constituency seats.
Pawan Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front suffered a major setback when 10 of its 13 MLAs joined the Bhartiya Janta Party recently. Two other leaders from SDF left the party and joined their hands with the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha.
For the by-polls, BJP has decided to tie up with Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). SKM had won the Gangtok seat this year. According to the national secretary of the saffron party, Ram Madhav, two-third members of the SKM party wants to merge with the BJP.
In the race to win Sikkim, BJP also released the list of its candidates for the by-polls. Till now, only 2 candidates have been announced by the saffron party.
- Shri Sonam Tshering Venchungpa– Martam-Rumtek (BL), Sikkim
- Shri Yong Tshering Lepcha– Gangtok (BL), Sikkim
The by-polls are slated to take place on October 21. A total of 63 assembly seats and 1 Lok Sabha seat will go to elections. Counting of votes will take place on October 24.