Northeast Desk, 27th February: The opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has called upon the Election Commission to impose central rule in Sikkim, citing alleged attacks on its cadres by the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
With assembly elections in Sikkim expected to coincide with the Lok Sabha polls in April-May, SDF leader and former chief minister Pawan Chamling submitted a memorandum to the chief election commissioner on Monday. Chamling alleged that SKM members, supported by the state government, have been assaulting SDF workers in brutal ways.
Chamling asserted that SDF workers were being obstructed by the ruling party from reaching out to voters before the elections, leading to an uneven playing field. To address this, he urged for the imposition of President’s rule in the border state to ensure fair conditions for all political parties.
Furthermore, Chamling called upon the Election Commission to direct the state administration to take decisive action to uphold the rule of law. The SDF also demanded the deployment of central forces to guarantee transparent and unbiased election campaigning.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Chamling stressed the need for the prompt appointment of “senior observers” to validate the claims outlined in the memorandum submitted by the SDF.
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