Peaceful voting is not possible without President’s rule: Chamling
Gangtok: Former Chief Minister Pawan Chamling says that without President’s rule in Sikkim, Sikkimese voters will not be able to participate freely in the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
“Within this week, the elections will be announced. If the people here want to vote fearlessly then President’s rule should be imposed immediately, only then an environment will be created to conduct peaceful elections. Today the situation is such that if elections are held, people are not able to participate due to fear and violence. As such, the SDF is coming to the elections with an agenda of saving the people of Sikkim from this fear and anarchy, maintaining law and order and restoring democracy,” the SDF president said.
Chamling was speaking to the media after the conclusion of the foot march from SDF Headquarters, Indira Bypass to Gangtok DAC area, Sichi. The rally, with a large participation of SDF workers, was to condemn the brutal attack on former Assembly Speaker and senior SDF leader KN Rai in Melli. They also raised slogans demanding justice for the former speaker.
The SDF chairman said the attack on Rai on 1 March was a “premeditated assassination attempt” and that the mastermind was still at large.
“We have given the administration a deadline of March 5 to arrest the mastermind, otherwise we will hold massive protests. Till now, no mastermind has been arrested and hence, we organized this peace rally with the participation of people from all over Sikkim. KN Rai is undergoing treatment in a hospital in Delhi and his condition is still critical and through this rally we want to give the message that people have no faith in the administration and the police. The attack on KN Rai and all incidents of political violence during these five years should be investigated by the CBI, this is our demand.
The former chief minister stressed that the state government is accountable for these incidents of political violence as it is their responsibility to maintain law and order. “Since SKM is involved in these incidents, no culprit has been arrested so far. These are all pre-planned attacks and we will not get justice from Sikkim Police and hence we have demanded a CBI inquiry.
Responding to a question, Chamling alleged that the current political violence in Sikkim was perpetrated by the SKM government with “masterminds living in Mintokgung”. “The Chief Minister is trying to cover up by blaming the SDF but he has forgotten that law and order is in his hands. If SDF has committed violence then the police should have arrested me as the party president as well as our SDF workers. Why didn’t they do that?”, he retorted.
Chamling shared that the SDF has announced candidates for five constituencies – Ashish Rai from Arithang, Hsieh Lachungpa from Lachen-Mangan, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha from Dzongu, Norzang Lepcha from Tumin-Linggi, and Gnawong Chopel from Kabi-Lungchok. Lepcha.
The remaining candidates will be announced after the election dates are announced, the SDF president said.
SDF’s representation to the Governor
On Monday, an SDF delegation visited the office of Governor Sikkim at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum demanding President’s rule in Sikkim for the upcoming elections.
The SDF delegation included party officials PD Rai, KT Gyaltsen, Shakti Singh Chaudhary, Sushil Rai and Karma Tenpa.
The memorandum was prepared on behalf of the all-party meeting held on March 9 which was attended by SRP, SRMP, BJP and SDF. An SDF release said the all-party meeting supported the need for President’s rule in Sikkim for free and fair elections.
The release noted that the delegation also apprised the Governor’s Office of the recent letter sent from the Election Commission of India to the Chief Electoral Officer, Sikkim, in which it has been emphasized that in the upcoming elections “violence There may be no space.
Announcement of candidates
Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) on Monday announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections. The five candidates are:
