SIKKIM: SDF WILL GRAB ALL THE SEATS IN THE 2019 ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS : CM

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Monday asserted that the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) will sweep all the 32 constituencies, 40 seats also if the Assembly is expanded, in coming 2019 Assembly elections in Sikkim. Opposition parties are only troubling themselves by touring the State, he said at Yuksam helipad.

The Chief Minister was addressing the people of Yuksom-Tashiding constituency as part of his ongoing Sikkim Jana Sewa, Jana Samman Yatra.

“We had lost eight seats in East Sikkim last elections (2014). Now people of all those eight constituencies are saying when elections will come as they had made a mistake in the last elections. The entire East Sikkim have turned towards SDF. In fact, all the four districts – east, south, west and north – are with us,” said Chamling.

In 2014 elections, the ruling SDF had lost in eight constituencies but swept all the eight seats each of south and west districts. With two seats from North Sikkim, the SDF went on to form its fifth consecutive government with 22 seats.

“Paach palta di sakyo, Cha palta dinu tayar cha (people gave us five terms, they are ready to give us sixth term also),” said the Chief Minister.

Chamling shared with the gathering that he has been told by the faith-healers that SDF will sweep all the 32 seats in 2019. “I have been told not take too much trouble this time. They have forecasted that I will sweep all the 32 seats and even 40 seats also (if the Assembly is expanded).

“The opposition parties are only troubling themselves by touring the State. Ghomoosh, Ghomoosh, Yaad Nargnu (Let them tour, you ignore them),” Chamling told the gathering.

Chamling also gave his perspective on how the 2019 electoral battle would pan out. “All the opposition political parties would team up and be on one side to take on the SDF in the coming elections. They will be against the people of Sikkim and do not have any good intention for the State. The SDF will enter the electoral battle with the issue of ensuring the rule of Sikkimese in their own land and for protecting the respect of the Sikkimese,” he said.

In his three and half hours long speech, the Chief Minister sensitized the people of this remote constituency about the developmental initiatives and public-welfare measures of the SDF government.

He also announced sites for small shops along the roadsides in West Sikkim as another livelihood avenue for the local unemployed youth.

The roadside shops selling tea, snacks or organic vegetables would measure 10 ft x 30 ft and to be constructed by Roads & Bridges department. The panchayats and area MLA have been tasked to ensure that the sites are properly selected.

“The State government will set up tea, fast food and organic vegetable shops along the roadsides wherever they are needed. The sites must be properly selected and not done mindlessly. These shops must be run by the local people,” said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister also sanctioned the demands placed by area MLA Sonam Dadul Bhutia for roads and other infrastructural assets.

On the demand for roads, Chamling shared that the total length of the roads in Sikkim before Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government was only 1800 km. Those roads were narrow and mostly only jeepable, he said.

“In these 24 years of the SDF government, the number of roads in Sikkim has vastly increased and the total length of the roads is 7000 km. These roads are metalled and wide,” he said.

The Chief Minister pointed that he has been receiving and sanctioning demand for new roads from the constituencies visited so far under the Yatra. “I think the demands of new roads will reach 1000 km in length. It will mean another 1000 km will be added to Sikkim making the total length of roads in Sikkim to 8000 km,” he said.

In his welcome address, area MLA Sonam Dadul Bhutia had also the public demand of a Coronation Park in the constituency. It was requested to the State government to install statues of the three monks who had met at Norbugang, Yuksam and declared the first Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal of Sikkim in 1642 thus starting the history of Sikkim.

The Chief Minister also approved the demand and announced to install statues of the three monks – Lhatsun Chenpo Namkha Jigme, Ngadag Sempa Chenpo and Kathog Kuntu Zangpo. “The three monks propagated Buddhism, established monarchy and Sikkim country came into existence. They have a huge contribution towards Sikkim. We will install the statues of the three monks at Yuskam as a historical legacy and as a tourist destination as well,” he said.

At the same time, the Chief Minister expressed his displeasure on the inordinate delay in completing the Stairway to Heaven project at Daramdin, West Sikkim. The mega cultural-historical-tourism project is being undertaken by the Buildings & Housing department.

Chamling pointed out that the decision for the project was taken 15 years ago and tender was done 12 years ago.

“Yesterday I asked what is happening with the project and I was told that works have not started for the project. Now the SDF government will be blamed for the delay and the opposition gets an opportunity to criticize us.”

The Chief Minister said the secretary and engineers of the department has to take responsibility for the inordinate delay in completion of the project based on a Lepcha myth.

“Our government had good intentions while starting the Stairway to Heaven project. It would have brought revenue from tourists and also immortalize the Lepcha community. Our aim was to combine the Lepcha mythology with modern development process of Sikkim but it has been delayed for years,” said Chamling.

The Chief Minister, in his address, highlighted there are limitless opportunities in several sectors including organic farming and tourism for the youth of Sikkim to earn a livelihood. He urged the farmers of Yuksam-Tashiding to take vegetable farming on a wider scale and produce more vegetables as the State government has banned the sale of non-organic vegetables in the State. The State government is fully supporting the farmers by providing them with Kisaan markets, transport subsidy and other forms of support, he said.

“The State government has provided huge opportunities but our people must learn how to use these opportunities to become self-reliant. All the opportunities we have brought for the people of Sikkim are being taken by outsiders who do trade, contract works, tourism and other industries operating in Sikkim, he said. It is because our people are not taking these opportunities. There are 3 lakh people from outside Sikkim who are working or doing business in Sikkim,” said Chamling.

The Chief Minister would be attending a coordination meeting of SDF party tomorrow at Geyzing community hall. He has so far covered seven constituencies of West Sikkim with only Zoom-Salghari constituency left.