SDF sweeps first municipal elections in Sikkim

The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front party in Sikkim swept all the 47 seats in the municipality elections that were held here on Tuesday.

All votes in Tadong, Ranipool and Burtuk in east Sikkim, where opposition filed nomination, went in favour of the SDF.
The party won 44 seats in other urban local bodies uncontested.
The SDF is said to have won by a margin of over a thousand votes in the three wards. Counting was held here in a peaceful environment and the ruling party celebrations have started throughout Sikkim.

VP Pathak appointed as Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Sikkim

GANGTOK, October 15: State Health secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak has been transferred as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Sikkim as per the latest order from the Election Commission of India.
Mr. Pathak takes over the charge from the incumbent CEO, TT Dorji who is also the Chief Secretary of the State government.
Mr. Pathak has also been designated as secretary to the Sikkim Government in the election department and ceased to hold and handover the charge of all or any charges of work under the State government which he may have been holding before such assumption of office. He will also not be holding any additional charges

Municipal Electoral Registration Officers designated

GANGTOK, September 14: All District Collectors in Sikkim  have been appointed as Municipal Electoral Registration Officers for the upcoming Municipal elections in the State.
An IPR press release informs that the programme for preparation and publication of Municipal electoral rolls has also been rescheduled. The dates for segregation and date entry have been fixed from September 8 to September 19, 2009 while publication of draft electoral rolls is scheduled on October 5. Similarly, disposal of claims and objection have been slated for October 5 to 15 and October 18 for final publication.
Also, the state government has requested all eligible voters to contact the concerned officers of the districts dealing with preparation of electoral rolls of Gangtok, Singtam, Rangpo, Namchi, Jorethang, Gyalshing and Mangan for registration of their names

SDF’s Binod Rai wins by securing 4930 votes

NAMCHI, September 14: Continuing with the winning streak, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) candidate, Binod Kumar Rai secured 4930 votes out of the total vote cast of 6104, in the 11-Namchi-Singithang bye-election to comfortably win the seat.
As per information received from the Returning Officer, 11-Namchi Singithang Assembly, out of the total vote cast of 6104, the SDF candidate lead against all other contesting party with a huge vote of 4930 while the Indian National Congress candidate Youa Raj Rai secured only 590 votes followed by Independent candidate Namgyal Dorjee Bhutia with 516 votes. Sikkim Gorkha Prajantrik Party’s Arjun Kumar Rai was fourth in the row with 48 votes. Chandra Prakash Manger who had already surrendered but could not take back his nomination due to some reason too scored 20 votes.
The total number of electors in the constituency was 9066. It is also informed that the total number of rejected votes and total number of tended votes were nil.
The counting of bye-election was held this morning at the Conference hall of District Administrative Centre in the presence of Returning Officer, Central Observer, respective contesting candidates, Sector Magistrates, Sector Police Officers, ITBP force and concerned election officials.
After the result declaration the supporters of SDF party took out a victory rally by party supporters which started from the District Administrative Centre and ended at the SDF party office at Namchi Bazaar.
Coincidentally, the newly elected MLA of 11 Namchi-Singithang just after his victory attended the muhurat of a shooting of a music video that is being shot in the premises of Central Park at Namchi.
Meanwhile, the Returning Officer, who is also the District Collector South AK Singh thanked all the individuals engaged in the process of bye-election for their support in making this task end peacefully and smoothly.

Preparation of Municipal Election in Sikkim

Gangtok,September 15 : As per the press communiqué received from Information and Public relation Department all District Collectors have been appointed as Municipal Electoral Registration Officers and the program for preparation and publication of Municipal electoral rolls has been rescheduled. Date for the segregation and data entry is 8.9.2009 to 19/9/2009, publication of draft electoral rolls 5/10/2009, disposal of claims and objection 5/10/2009 to 15/10/2009 and Final publication date is 28/10/2009.
All eligible voters are requested to contact the concerned officers of the districts dealing with preparation of electoral rolls of Gangtok, Singtam, Rangpo, Namchi, Jorethang, Gyalshing and Mangan for registration of their names.

Sikkim Assembly comprises only ruling party MLAs

Gangtok,Sep14: With the victory of Namchi-Singhithang Assembly seat by Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), the party on Monday retained all seats in the 32-member state legislature.
The bypoll win also fulfilled Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's wish to maintain a stranglehold over the state politics by outwitting his rival Nar Bahadur Bhandari.

SDF equalled 20 year-old record of Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) of then Chief Minister Bhandari.
SDF nominee Binod Kumar Rai's victory by a margin of 4340 votes from Namchi-Singhithang seat, voting for by-poll was held on September 10 and the results announced today.

The win has ensured that there would only be ruling party's MLAs in the eighth Sikkim Assembly.

Bhandari's call to the voters to let the Opposition candidate win from Namchi-Singhithang seat for the sake of democracy in Sikkim failed to cut favour as the four Opposition candidates put together polled 1174 votes, less than 20 percent of the total votes polled.

The by-poll for Namchi-Singhithang Assembly seat was necessitated by Chamling's decision to vacate the seat after his election from two seats in the Assembly polls held in April.

The Chief Minister had chosen to retain Poklok-Kamrang seat.

ECI approval for Namchi counting

Gangtok,Sep12: Election Commission of India has given approval for setting up of a counting centre at Conference Hall of District Administrative Centre, Namchi, for bye election from 11-Namchi Singithang Assembly Constituency of Sikkim. The date and time for commencement of counting of votes is fixed at 8.00 a.m on 14.9.09.
(IPR)

Namchi election free, fair and peaceful, says DC

Binod Rai casting his vote
Namchi,Sep11 : The fate of five candidates contesting for the Bye Poll in Namchi Singithang constituency is now locked in the 15 EVMs which have been kept under care of Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) at a strong room, in Namchi District Administrative Centre (DAC).
DC South and also the Returning Officer, AK Singh while talking to reporters said that the election was held peacefully to the fullest satisfaction of all the candidates and the Central Observer. Not a single complaint was received from any candidate, he said. He further informed that the turn out of voters in this bye election was 67.5% against 74% in the last general assembly election held in May 2009.
DC said that in the constituency, the poling station at Namchi Sr. Sec. School Room No. 3 recorded the lowest voting percentage of 48.10% while the poling station at Singtam Palung Primary School recorded the highest turn out of 81.06%.

According to DC Mr. Singh, the SPCC President has filed a complaint yesterday to the Observer which was later forwarded to him where it was mentioned that the people were afraid of coming out of their house to cast vote”, the DC/RO said. He further informed that the EVMs have been kept in the strong room under the watch of ITBP personnel, Central Observers and the Election cell. Above the strong room and the counting hall, there are CCTV cameras and one person for round the clock vigil, he said. The DAC conference hall has been prepared for counting of votes which is tentatively slated for 14th September subject to the final decision by Chief Election Officer

A day of nostalgia for Sikkim CM

Namchi,sep11: It was perhaps nostalgic for Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling when, after two and a half decades, he cast his vote for another candidate, of course one of his own party SDF, from Namchi Singithang constituency on Thursday.
Damthang was the constituency before delimitation from where he was elected MLA for 25 years. After delimitation, Damthang broke up in two constituencies, namely, Namchi Singithang and Poklok Kamrang from both of which the Chief Minister won with huge margin in May 2009 general election.
Subsequently, he retained Poklok Kamrang and vacated Namchi Singithang for the bye election on September 10, in which Binod Rai is contesting with SDF ticket. Dr. Chamling and Mrs. Tika Maya Chamling cast their vote on the day at Namchi New Secondary School poling booth while SDF candidate Binod Rai cast his vote at Mickhola School poling booth.
Independent candidates Namgyal Bhutia and Chandra Prakash Manger cast their vote at JNMIH, Boomtar, and Phalidara poling stations respectively. Two other candidates, Yuva Raj Rai of INC and Arjun Rai of SGPP are not voters of this constituency.

Sikkim bye-election Counting on Sep14

NAMCHI, September 10: The polling for the Assembly bye-election at 11-Namchi-Singithing seat in South Sikkim was conducted peacefully today amidst tight security arrangements.
The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, whose name figures in this constituency cast his vote at 12:26 pm at New Secondary School, Namchi. He was accompanied by Mrs Tika Maya Chamling.
No untoward incident was reported anywhere from the constituency.
“The election was peaceful. We neither seized any arms nor arrested anyone. Not a single incident was reported where the voters have been influenced or intimidated to cast their votes,” returning officer AK Singh informed.
He said special in-charges were deputed in sensitive booths to prevent any untoward incidents.
“The polling recorded 67.5 percent as compared to the last general election which was 74 percent,” the Returning Officer said adding that the highest vote was recorded in Singtam Palung Junior High School which was 81.06 percent while the lowest vote was recorded as 48.10 percent in Namchi Senior Secondary School Room Number 3. Similar data was recorded from the same places in the last general election.
From a total of 9066 votes in the constituency, the total vote cast recorded till 4 pm was 6101. The remaining votes, from Saleybong polling area was yet to arrive yet till the filing of the report. The total number of voters cast in the last election was 9103.
However, with polling over, the fate of the five contestants of different political parties including Yova Raj Rai of Indian National Congress, Binod Rai from the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, Arjun Kumar Rai from the Sikkim Gorkha Prajantrik Party and two independent candidates Namgyal Dorjee Bhutia and Chandra Prakash Mangar will be decided on September 14 after the counting of votes. The by-election was necessitated following the vacating of the seat by the Chief Minster Pawan Chamling. Mr. Chamling had retained the Poklong-Kamrang constituency after winning from the both the constituencies in the Assembly elections held earlier this year.
It is also informed that the observation of the strong room where the EVMs shall be kept and also the counting hall are under CCTV vigilance till the declaration of the election results on September 14. The EVMs after having being returned from the 15 polling stations will be checked, sealed and locked in the presence of the Returning Officer, candidates, Central Observer and other concerned persons. In the process of checking EVMs if any uncommon thing is found then the matter would be reported by the Presiding Officers to the Central Observer, said the Returning Officer. Two sections of Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been deputed in the District Administrative Centre to guard the strong room, he said.
Mr. Singh also informed that the training for counting supervisors will be conducted tomorrow along with all the candidates and the Presiding Officers. Counting arrangement will be done as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines and requiremen

67 per cent votes cast in Sikkim assembly bypoll

Gangtok, Sept 10 (PTI) Over 67 per cent votes were cast in the bypoll for Namchi-Singhithang assembly seat in Sikkim today amidst tight security.

More than 6,100 of the 9,086 electorate, including Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and his wife Tika Maya, used their franchise, Joint Chief Electoral Officer C P Dhakal said.

Five contestants -- Binod Kumar Rai (SDF), Youva Raj Rai (INC), Arjun Kumar Rai (SGPP), Chandra Prakash Manger and Namgyal Bhutia (both Independent) -- are in the fray for the seat.

The counting of votes will be held at Namchi, district headquarters of South Sikkim, on September 14, Dhakal said.

Namchi all set for bye-election today

NAMCHI, September 9: The South District headquarters is all set for the 11-Namchi-Singithang bye-election scheduled for tomorrow.
Addressing a press conference here at his office today, the District Collector South, AK Singh who is also the Returning Officer (RO) said the District is ready to face any kind of untoward incidences if any in the constituency.
He said that the polling materials have been dispatched to the presiding and polling officers and these officers have departed for their respective polling stations who were briefed by the Central Observer and the Returning Officer prior to their departure. Two Sector Magistrates SDM Rabongla Dushyant Pariyar and SDM Namchi Annapoorna Alley have been deputed for the polling stations. They have been specially directed to observe the sensitive booths, the RO informed.
In the meantime, three special in-charges have also been deputed to report any uncommon happenings in these declared sensitive booths. Rural Development Assistants (RDAs) have also been assigned in each polling stations till the end of polling procedure to take care of the shortcomings if in case, Mr. Singh said.
Keeping in mind the prevailing weather condition, the RO informed that Route In-charge along with one special Quick Response Team (QRT) has been deployed in clearing the road blockages as well as to give the updates on road conditions in order to guide the polling parties to reach safely to their respective stations. The Chief Election Officer (CEO) CP Dhakal has been deputed from the Election Commission to this constituency till the end of the election process.
Responding to the plea of nominated candidate of INC regarding the unavailability of polling agents in four stations from his party, the RO said that the Sector Magistrates as well as the micro observers shall be directed to observe the polling procedures in these stations. The control room has been established to address any kind of complaints, queries and other poll related issues. He added that Tinzir and Mickhola have been declared as sensitive polling stations for which the arrangements have been made while for Singtam (South Sikkim) special arrangements have been made due to the distance as it is far off compared to other polling stations. All the schools which fall under Namchi-Singithang will also be closed on the polling day and the voters of the said constituency has been granted holiday.
The DC further informed that the media would be involved as much to maintain transparency in the bye-election and they would also be provided with all the facilities as required.
On the polling day prior to the actual polling time mock poll will be carried in the presence of the party candidates or the polling agents, sector magistrates and the presiding officer, he said. This, he added will be done in order to clear the doubts of the contesting candidates. The mock poll will start from 6am and the candidates will be allowed to cast their mock poll more than ten times for their satisfaction, the RO further said

CM wraps up SDF campaign for Sikkim bypoll

Namchi, Sep8 : “My heart will remain with the people of Namchi-Singithang whom I have served since March 1985 and with whom I have developed a lasting bond of love which will not fade even though I have chosen the Poklok-Kamrang constituency leaving my earlier one to Binod Rai”. This was said by SDF President and Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling while addressing a public meeting at Baichung Stadium here on September 8 which marked the end of SDF campaign for the ensuing bye election in Namchi-Singithang constituency.
He said Binod Rai is given the SDF party nomination for the Namchi-Singithang bye election as he has worked for the party from the beginning and he is as senior a party worker as GM Gurung, KN Rai and DD Bhutia, among others. By giving nomination SDF party has done justice to Binod Rai who has been sincerely working for party, Chief Minister said, adding, chances are given to new candidates to refresh the party and its Government.
Turning to opposition parties the Chief Minister said, there are some working to misguide the poor people of Sikkim in the name of cast, religion and others things and trying to grab power.
He cautioned the people saying, “if the Government power slips from the SDF and goes to such elements, it will definitely bring back the ‘Goonda Raj’ in Sikkim”. He urged the people to never be misled and join hands with to fulfill the vision of SDF Government.
Chief Minister announced that the Government has planned to invest Rs.1 lakh crores in different sectors of the State and urged the people of Sikkim to be prepared to take advantages from every sector.
The mammoth meeting was also addressed by the candidate Binod Rai, among others. Mr. Rai thanked the party President and reiterated his commitment to work for his beloved people without fail.

Sikkim by-poll preparation satisfactory : Observer

Namchi: The preparation for the upcoming Bye Poll of Namchi Singithang Constituency is almost over and the remaining work will be completed within next two days. This was said on Monday by the Returning Officer AK Singh who is also the DC South. Mr. Singh told this correspondent that total 20 Electronic Voting Machines have been received and kept in strong room under the vigil of Sikkim Armed Police, Election Cell and the Central Observer. According to him, preparation of EVMs was completed in the presence of Observer, election body and the representatives of all the parties and candidates. Soon the control of strong room will be handed over to ITBP personnel, he added. According to the Returning Officer, out of 20 EVMs 15 will be sent to the 15 poling booths while 5 will be kept as reserve. The EVMs will be distributed among the poling officers on 9th September 2009, a day before the election, he said. Regarding Model Code of Conduct, the RO said that “till date no violation of the modal code of conduct has been reported and everything is going on normally and peacefully”. The Central Observer is also satisfied with the election process, he added.

Sikkim Congress campaign for bye-polls elections

GANGTOK, September 6: Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) is presently campaigning actively in all parts of Namchi-Singithang constituency for the upcoming bye-polls. The campaign is being spearheaded by SPCC president Nar Bahadur Bhandari and senior party members.
The election campaign of SPCC covered today Rong and Singtam Palam polling booths of the constituency where people from large numbers from neighbouring areas gathered to hear Mr. Bhandari and candidate Yuva Raj Rai.

A press release informs that the people response to make the Congress candidate win from Namchi-Singithang constituency is heartening. “They feel convinced that strong opposition is the need of the hour to ensure growth and development in a democratic manner which is not available under the present Sikkim Democratic Front government”, states the release.

The release informs that Mr. Bhandari met the people of the polling booths falling under the constituency and enquired about the benefits given to them by the present State government which were sent by the Central government for their welfare and progress.
“The people in one voice denied having received any benefit of any Central scheme”, the release says.
Mr. Bhandari has assured to take up the matter with the Centre.

Namchi Singithang bye poll update

Namchi,August27: The bye poll election for Namchi Singithang Constituency in South Sikkim will now have total five candidates in the field. This was finalized On Thursday, 27 August, the last date of withdrawal for candidates who filed their nominations in office of Returning Officer, Namchi.
The time for withdrawal was from 11 am to 3pm but no candidate turned in the office of RO to withdraw his candidature. Later at around 4;30pm the independent candidate Chandra Prakash Manger of Phalidara approached the Returning Officer to withdraw his candidature but it was too late, said the RO, Mr. Singh.
The contesting candidates were allotted respective election symbols on the day. Binod Rai of Mickhola, who is SDF candidate will have the party symbol of Umbrella, INC candidate Youa Raj Rai of Hingdam, will contest with the symbol of Hand, Arjun Kumar Rai of Lower Tintek, Marchak, East Sikkim who is contesting from SGPP will have Battery Torch symbol while Independent candidate Namgyal Dorjee Bhutia of Rajgram Namchi was allotted symbol of Table and Chandra Prakash Manger of Phalidara was given the symbol of comb.
After the withdrawal period, RO and also the DC south, Mr. Singh held a meeting with the candidates and the officials to be engaged in the election of Namchi-Singithang Constituency. In the meeting DC south informed the candidates about the model code of conduct and informed about the preparations being made by the administration and the police to maintain law and order in the constituency as well as in the whole district.
He informed that the 1st level “randomization” of the EVMs has been already completed while the second one will be held on 6th August and the third and final ones on 8th August 2009.
The EVMs will be distributed to the different poling stations on 9th August 2009, he informed. Similarly, Sector Police Officer TD Kazi while briefing the candidates on the police preparation said that the police were frequently patrolling the area. He further said that Sikkim Armed Police will guard the strong room where the EVMs will be kept and that the policemen to be deployed in the lection duty are from outside Namchi. INC candidate Mr. Rai raised several queries which were answered by Mr. Singh.

Five nominations accepted for Sikkim bye-polls

NAMCHI, August 25: A total of five nominations have been accepted after the scrutiny of the nomination papers, filed by six candidates for the 11 Namchi-Singithang constituency bye-election in South Sikkim.
The accepted nominated candidates are Binod Rai for the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, Yova Raj Rai from INC Congress Party, Arjun Kumar Rai from Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party (SGPP), Namgyal Dorjee Bhutia and Chandra Prakash Mangar as independent candidates.
During a brief press conference held at the office of the District Collector (South) in the presence of general observer P. Venkateswarlu, the DC (South), AK Singh who is also the Returning Officer for the Bye-elections further said there are a total of 15 polling stations. “Out of the 15 stations, Tinzir and Mikhola have been declared as sensitive zones,” he said.
The DC further said that section 144, all other rules and regulations related to the Model Code of Conduct like limited usage of Vehicles, no of passengers, expenditures, holding meetings etc have been implemented in the constituency. He added that Sector Police Officers have also been declared where SDPO Namchi, TD Kazi is the Sector Police Officer, PI Sonam Detchu is the Sub Sector Police Officer with SI Karma Doma Bhutia. SDM Namchi, Annapurna Alley is the Sector Magistrate.
The returning officer further said that teachers have been spared from the Polling duties. A total of 5 polling personnel have been allotted in each polling station while 25 persons have been kept as reserved, he said. The DC further said that all of the polling personnel are non voters of this bye-election.
The training for the polling personnel and concerned officials will be held on September 5 at South District Administrative Centre Conference Hall.
Mr. Singh also informed that strong room for the EVMs have been prepared at the District Administrative Centre, for which he has requested the Election Commission at Gangtok to send fresh EVMs for this election.
Earlier, after the process of scrutiny, the District Collector and the Election Observer met with the candidates and briefed them on the model code of conduct and other essential aspects related to the election.
Requesting all the candidates to maintain the rules and regulations of the election process, the DC asked the people to create the same ambience in the bye-election like done during the recent general election. At the same time, the DC also assured complete cooperation from his office to the candidates and also urged them for cooperation to conduct the election in a transparent, just, accessible and peaceful manner.
In the case of unfortunate incidents, the DC asked the candidates to contact him or the other concerned officials attached to the election duty for any kind of help or inquiries. Mr. Singh also asked the candidates to submit only those authentic complaints or grievances on genuine grounds either to him or to the Observer to avoid false implications.
The Observer asked the candidates to submit their expenditure details to him at the Dak Bungalow where he is presently residing.
The withdrawal of candidatures is on August 27 while the polling day is on September 10 from 7 am to 4 pm.

South Sikkim Arms licences suspended before bypoll

Gangtok,August24: The licences of all arms in South district of Sikkim were suspened under the provisions of Arms Act, 1959, till the end of bye-poll for Namchi-Singhithang assembly seat, an official order said today.

The owners of firearms have been directed to deposit their arms licences, arms and ammunition to the nearest police station, it said.

The arms licences issued to the banks in South Sikkim have been kept out of the purview of this directive, the order said

Six candidates file nominations for Sikkim by-polls

GANGTOK, 24 AUG: Six candidates have filed nomination for the by-elections to the Namchi-Singithang Assembly seat in South Sikkim. According to Mr CP Dhakal, joint chief electoral officer, state election department, six including two Independent candidates submitted nomination papers to the South district collector in Namchi today. The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front has fielded Mr Binod Kumar Rai, while two candidates of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Mr Avinash Yakha and Mr Yuva Raj Rai filed their nominations. Mr Arjun Kumar Rai would contest for the Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party, while two other Independents, Mr Namgyal Dorjee Bhutia and Mr Chandra Prakash Mangar also filed their nominations.
Today was the last day for filing nomination. Scrutiny of the nomination papers would be done on 26 August while 28 August would be the last date for withdrawal. The election would be held on 10 September.
The Namchi-Singithang seat fell vacant after the chief minister and SDF president Mr Pawan Chamling resigned following his victory in both the Namchi-Singithang and Poklok-Kamrang seats of South Sikkim in the April Assembly elections

Six candidates file nominations for Sikkim by-polls

GANGTOK, 24 AUG: Six candidates have filed nomination for the by-elections to the Namchi-Singithang Assembly seat in South Sikkim. According to Mr CP Dhakal, joint chief electoral officer, state election department, six including two Independent candidates submitted nomination papers to the South district collector in Namchi today. The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front has fielded Mr Binod Kumar Rai, while two candidates of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Mr Avinash Yakha and Mr Yuva Raj Rai filed their nominations. Mr Arjun Kumar Rai would contest for the Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party, while two other Independents, Mr Namgyal Dorjee Bhutia and Mr Chandra Prakash Mangar also filed their nominations.
Today was the last day for filing nomination. Scrutiny of the nomination papers would be done on 26 August while 28 August would be the last date for withdrawal. The election would be held on 10 September.
The Namchi-Singithang seat fell vacant after the chief minister and SDF president Mr Pawan Chamling resigned following his victory in both the Namchi-Singithang and Poklok-Kamrang seats of South Sikkim in the April Assembly elections