GANGTOK, Oct. 5: One hundred forty six SDF candidates were declared uncontested winners from the West and East districts of Sikkim today on the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers for the forthcoming panchayat elections in the state. Interestingly, however, Mr Sonam Tshering Tamang, SDM-cum-returning officer, was replaced by Mr BB Subba, additional district collector, for Soreng sub-division in West district. According to Election Commission officials, Mr Tamang had blundered by declaring two CPI-M, Congress and Independent candidates as withdrawn, which was against the norms and regulation of the Election Commission. The total number of seats in the gram panchayat is 889 for which 1821 nominations have been filed. Eight hundred eighty nine polling booths would be set up in Sikkim for the panchayat polls and 2,400 electronic voting machines would be used. Two hundred and eighty five nominations have been filed for the 93 zilla parishad seats. "State Election Commission will send ballot papers for printing at Sikkim Government Press in Gangtok tomorrow," said Mr CB Dhakal, joint chief electoral officer.
