Northeast Desk, 4th April: In a significant departure from previous alliances, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opted to contest the upcoming state assembly elections in Sikkim independently. The decision, coming after failed negotiations with the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), marks a strategic shift in the state’s political landscape ahead of the April 19 elections.
The parting of ways between the BJP and the SKM stemmed from disagreements over seat allocations, prompting the BJP to forge its own path in Sikkim’s electoral arena. Despite previously holding 12 seats in the outgoing assembly, primarily through defections from the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), the BJP now faces a setback with only seven members vying for seats in the upcoming polls, following five defections.
Undeterred by the challenges, the BJP’s Sikkim unit president, DR Thapa, remains steadfast in rallying support around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the promise of aligning Sikkim with the national development agenda.
“Sikkim’s strategic significance demands a robust government to safeguard the rights of its people and propel development in tandem with national aspirations,” remarked Thapa.
However, skepticism looms over the BJP’s prospects in Sikkim, with opposition candidate Kala Rai from the SKM casting doubts on the lotus blooming in the region’s hilly terrain.
Meanwhile, other opposition factions, including the Sikkim Democratic Front and the Citizen Action Party (CAP), express concerns over the BJP’s potential impact on Sikkim’s special status protected under Article 371 (F) of the constitution.
Critics accuse the BJP of risking indigenous rights, particularly with recent legislative amendments broadening the definition of ‘Sikkimese’ to include descendants of old settlers—a move defended by the BJP as aimed at granting tax exemptions.
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