Municipal polls schedule announced Voting on April 27, Counting on April 29 51,466 voters to elect their civic representatives in 45 wards

The schedule of the first municipal elections in Sikkim was announced by the State Election Commission today during the all-party meet held at Chintan Bhavan.

According to the commission, the formal notification of the civic polls will be issued on March 27 leading to immediate enforcement of model code of conduct from that date till the conclusion of the elections.

The last date for filing nomination papers is on April 3 to the concerned returning officers. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on April 5 and the last date for withdrawing nominations is April 7.

Voting will take place on April 27 and counting will be done on April 29.

Sikkim is having its first ever municipal elections. There was a municipal body in Gangtok during the 1980s with nominated members. The body was however scraped later.
This time, it will be three tier urban body in Sikkim-Gangtok Municipality Corporation, Namchi Municipal Council and five Nagar Panchayats at Singtam, Jorethang, Rangpo, Geyzing and Mangan.

The reservation pattern in the 45 municipal wards with total voter strength of 51,466 voters has already been notified by the commission.

As per the commission, there are 15 wards in Gangtok Municipal Corporation with 33,957 voters. The wards are Burtuk (2770 voters), Lower Sichey (1353 voters), Upper Sichey (2260 voters), Chandmari (2164) voters, Development Area (2193 voters), Diesel Power House (1881 voters), Arithang (3221 voters), Lower MG Marg (2235 voters), Upper MG Marg (2583 voters), Tibet Road (1137 voters), Deorali (2563 voters), Daragoan (2649 voters), Tadong (2965 voters), Ranipool (1943 voters) and Syari-Tathangchen (2040 voters).
Namchi Municipal Corporation has seven wards with a total of 4939 voters. These wards are Gangyap (1271 voters), Damudara (504 voters), Upper Ghurpisey (471 voters), Lower Ghurpisey (585 voters), Upper Boomtar (614 voters), Upper Singithang (754 voters) and Purano Namchi (794 voters).

Among the five Nagar Panchayats who have five wards each, Rangpo has the highest voter strength with 38328 voters. The wards are Majhitar (717 voters), Mining (826), Mandi Bazaar (619 voters), Rangpo Upper Bazaar (868 voters) and Chanatar (798 voters).
Singtam Nagar Panchayat has total voter strength of 2803 voters. The wards are Pipal Dara (405 voters), Daragoan (616 voters), Mandir Line (768 voters), Lall Bazaar (498 voters) and Chisopani (516 voters).

Similarly, Jorethang Nagar Panchayat has five wards with 3235 voters. The wards are Shantinagar (570 voters), Trikaleshwar (488 voters), Daragaon (590 voters), Majhi Goan East (890 voters) and Majhi Goan West (697 voters).

Mangan, the north district headquarters has been made as a Nagar Panchayat with 1135 voters. The wards are Upper Mangan Bazaar (212 voters), Pentok (130 voters), Power Colony (116 voters), Rinzing Namgyal Marg (323 voters) and Lower Mangan Bazaar (354 voters).

The west district headquarters, Geyzing has also been notified as a Nagar Panchayat with 1569 voters. The wards are Tikjuk (221 voters), Kyongsa (326 voters), Naya Bazaar (284 voters), Central Geyzing (437 voters) and New Geyzing (301 voters).

Code of conduct: From March 27
Last date for filing nominations: April 3
Scrutiny of nominations: April 5
Last date for withdrawing: April 7
Voting: April 27
Counting: April 29

Gangtok Municipal Corporation
Total wards: 15
Total voters: 33,957

Namchi Municipal Council
Total wards: 7
Total voters: 4939

Jorethang Nagar Panchayat
Total wards: 5
Total voters: 3235

Singtam Nagar Panchayat
Total wards: 5
Total voters: 2803

Rangpo Nagar Panchayat
Total wards: 5
Total voters: 3828

Mangan Nagar Panchayat
Total wards: 5
Total voters: 1135

Geyzing Nagar Panchayat
Total wards: 5
Total voters: 1569

Source: Sikkim Express