Sikkim | Longest serving CM Pawan Chamling loses due to anti-incumbency factor

Gangtok, May 24, 2019:

Five-term serving Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling's reign has finally come to an end in state of Sikkim after the declaration of election results on May 23.

In a dramatic twist to the tale, a resurgent Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party has won the Assembly elections in the State by winning 17 of the 32 Assembly seats. The Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party had been in power of five consecutive terms since 1994.

Pawan Chamling's SDF failed to reach the magic number of 17, as it could win 'only' 15 seats. The SKM, meanwhile, won 17 seats to earn the mandate to form the new Government in the State.

It may be mentioned that the SKM is headed by Prem Singh Tamang, better known as PS Golay.

Meanwhile, footballer-turned-politician Bhaichung Bhutia's 'Humro Sikkim Party', which contested in twelve Seats, drew a blank.

The SDF president has, however, won from both Poklok Kamrang and Namchi Singithang constituencies in South Sikkim.

It may be mentioned that Both the SDF and the SKM contested all 32 Assembly seats.

The SKM party looks all set to complete the rout as party candidate Indra Hang Limboo is all set to win the lone Lok Sabha seat and is currently leading by over 12,000 votes.

Chamling was the longest serving Chief Minister for any Indian State after independence. Prior to establishing the SDF, Chamling served as Minister for Industries, Information and Public Relations from 1989 to 1992 in the Nar Bahadur Bhandari cabinet.

His party first came to power after winning the 1994 assembly elections. His popularity kept soaring in Sikkim due to his developmental work and for maintaining peace. In 2009, his SDF party won all 32 assembly seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

However, sources have said that the anti-incumbency factor led to the downfall of the of the long-serving Government in the State.

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