Sikkim Democratic Front sacks ex-MP & Anna sympathiser

Gangtok, Aug. 28: Former Sikkim Democratic Front MP Nakul Das Rai and a youth leader who was on fast in Gangtok to show solidarity with Anna Hazare have been expelled from the party for unspecified reasons.

The chief minister and SDF president, Pawan Chamling, expelled 15 other members also from the party late on Friday. He did not cite any reason for the expulsion.

“The SDF president, Pawan Chamling, has used the provisions in the party constitution to expel these members,” said a statement from the party.

However, none of those ousted has been sent any official communication from the SDF as yet.

While eight of the sacked members are panchayat members, seven others held various posts at local levels.

The 51-year-old Rai is a founder-member of the SDF and was considered to be a heavyweight in the party. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 on SDF ticket.

“Chamling has expelled me without any probe and has acted merely on flimsy complaints lodged with him by the sycophants in the party. It is not that I have been ousted after I was found guilty of any wrongdoing. I had been contemplating resigning from the SDF as I am engaged in other activities. I have struggled a lot to ensure that Chamling came to power and everyone knows that. I will soon elaborate on all these matters,” said Rai.

The ex-MP also said he had been instrumental in forming the SDF and he would lay bare Chamling’s attitude towards old party soldiers.

The other prominent leader to be shown the door was Yong Tshering Lepcha, who had started a fast on August 20 to synchronise with Anna Hazare’s hunger strike at the Ramlila grounds in New Delhi. Lepcha, 44, had been admitted to the STNM Hospital since August 24 and had been on drips since then.

A vegetable farmer from Nimtar in East Sikkim and the convener of the Youth Front of SDF in the district, Lepcha said: “If today is the happiest day in my life to see that my support for Anna Chacha has not gone in vain, yesterday was the saddest day when I came to know about my expulsion. I do not know whether I was ousted because of my support for Anna Hazare. I had sat on a hunger strike so that there is support to the national campaign against corruption from Sikkim also. I have not indulged in any anti-party activities by going on fast.”

Lepcha was a supervisor in the state power department and left the job in 2006 to devote full time to the SDF.

He broke his fast today.

Source: The Telegraph

Lie does not last: SDF Opposition must start their politics afresh: Dahal

GANGTOK, March 22: “Truth does not shake, lie does not last”, remarked a delighted SDF party as fireworks erupted across the State with the party supporters celebrating the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a DA petition filed by Congress seeking CBI probe against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today.

The political conspiracy of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) president Nar Bahadur Bhandari and his coterie who have been rejected by the people and were hurdles to development of Sikkim has thus ended, said SDF spokesperson Bhim Dahal in a press statement commenting on the judgement of the apex court.

Dahal pointed out that Bhandari has already been defeated by the ruling front in the people’s court nine times in Assembly and other polls. Bhandari has also lost at least seven times in various courts while filing cases against the Chief Minister, he said.

The party extends heartiest congratulations to Chief Minister and the Sikkimese people on the dismissal of the petition by the Supreme Court, the SDF spokesperson said.

“It is not only the victory of Pawan Chamling but the victory of the SDF party and Sikkimese Janta”, said Dahal. He said that the image of Sikkim is excellent in the country and abroad due to the ideal and nationalist leadership of Chamling.

“The opposition cannot come forward with their own agendas and programmes for developing Sikkim, are incapable of thinking for the welfare of the Sikkimese people and are always trying to impede Chamling from working for the Sikkimese people. They must now start their politics afresh”, said the SDF spokesperson.

Dahal added that the party will now move forward more committed for the development of Sikkim and Sikkimese people with this victory which has injected the party with new energy, self-respect and vindication.

The party spokesperson reminded that Bhandari who was the president of Sikkim Sangram Parishad then had on 15 June, 1996 demanded the then Governor Randhir Singh for a PIL against Chamling on alleged disproportionate assets. Bhandari had also given a 24 hours ultimatum to the Governor on December 3, 1996, he said.

The PIL which was filed on December 10, 1996 against the Chief Minister was dismissed by the High Court of Sikkim on December 10, 1997 and an appeal was filed with the Supreme Court which was also dismissed, the SDF spokesperson reminded.

Source: Sikkim Express

Supreme Court dismisses SPCC PIL against CM I carry no grudge against the petitioners: Pawan Chamling

GANGTOK, March 25: The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition filed by Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) functionaries seeking CBI probe into the disproportionate assets allegations against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.

According to national agency reports, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan directed petitioner Kunga Nima Lepcha, SPCC general secretary, to approach the investigating agencies concerned if he has got any such grievance.

The apex court directed the petitioner that if he feels he has got sufficient material, he can place the same before the probe agencies under relevant provisions of CrPC.

In response, Chamling expressed his satisfaction over the verdict of the Supreme Court.
This has made me more humble and has entrusted on me an even greater responsibility towards the people of the State, said the Chief Minister while addressing the inaugural session of the two day Career-cum-Employment Mela here at Chintan Bhavan.

Breaking the verdict news in his address, Chamling categorically stated that he has no grudge or ill-will against anyone. I have no grudge against anyone, not even against those who filed a case against me, he said.

On the other hand, petitioner Lepcha has claimed that the today’s Supreme Court order implies that the court has ‘not given clean chit’ to Chamling in the disproportionate asset issue as alleged in the petition.

In a press statement, the SPCC general secretary said that the petitioners will decide their next course of action after getting the written order of the Court, in consultation with the legal experts.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court had on December 23, 2008 reserved its judgement following the conclusion of the arguments on the petition after nine hearings since August 14, 2006.

Four SPCC functionaries led by Lepcha had filed the petition alleging Chamling of amassing disproportionate assets worth more than Rs. 1538 lakhs following which the apex Court had served notice to the Chief Minister on August 14, 2008. The petitioners had prayed for a CBI probe.

Source: Sikkim Express

AOSS congratulates CM

Gangtok: The Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) are in joyous mood to hear the order of Supreme Court dismissing the petition against Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling, says a press release by AOSS president Mr. S. K Sarda. “We congratulate our Chief Minister for this victory”, the release said.

The release also noted: “Dr Chamling has brought massive change in Sikkim’s economic, social and cultural scene and has strengthened the economy of Sikkim by his visionary leadership. This has raised the living standard of the people and opportunities now abound in Sikkim in trade, commerce, industry, tourism, floriculture, agriculture and animal husbandry”.

Source: Sikkim Reporter

18 active members give SDF 18 days ultimatum to take corrective measures

Eighteen ‘active members’ including central executive committee members and former Panchayats today issued a joint ‘Phase I’ representation to the ruling SDF party to take corrective measures within 18 days.

In the ‘eighteen days ultimatum’ submitted to the SDF general secretary (administration), the lot has demanded the ruling front the separation of the post of the party president and Chief Minister and declaration of assets by all the active members for removing corruption.

Those signing the representation are include Buddha Shanker (ex-Panchayat, Pakyong), Manju Rai (CEC, Yangang), Biswajit Chettri (active member, Melli), Tashi Bhutia (ex-upadhayksa, Temi Tarku), Bijay Subba (active member CEC, Pakyong), Tashi Rinchen (ex-Panchayat, Ralong), Karma Dadul (active member, Rabong), Birkha Man Subba (active member, Hee Bermoik), Ugen Namgyal (active member, Barfung), Dhurba Sharma (ex-general secretary, Poklong Kamrang), Mani Pratap Tamang (ex-Panchayat, Namchi Singithang), IK Gurung (active member, Namchi Singithang), CK Gurung (active member, Damthang), Ujal Gurung (active member, Namchi Singithang), Tashi Dorjee Tamang (active member, Namchi Singithang), Rudra Sunwar (active member, Namchi Singithang), Chewang Rabden (active member, Tinkitam) and Anthony Rai (active member, Jhoom Salgari).

If the party does not take corrective measures then it is free to expel us, the rebellious SDF workers said.

They has also raised ten major issues with the ruling front where they have claimed that only sycophants are rewarded in the SDF regime while those who have given sacrifices have been left out. The section also accused the ruling front of being anti-democratic by expelling fourteen founder members recently.

“If the policies of the SDF party does not change, then the political environment in Sikkim will vitiate”, the eighteen rebels said in a press statement.

From Sikkim Express

SIKKIM: “SDF mission to be carried to its logical conclusion” - SDF Manifesto

The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party president Pawan Chamling vowed to give continuity to all the ongoing developmental works in Sikkim and bring them to a logical end if voted to power for a record successive fourth government while releasing the party’s election manifesto today here in Gangtok.

“We want to give continuity to all our developmental works and bring them to a logical end. We will bring a qualitative change in Sikkim and Sikkimese people who will not only enjoy their democratic rights but get equal share in all the opportunities in the State. We have also targets for the coming generation and will create a highly skilled workforce in the State”, said Mr. Chamling in the press meet. He was meeting the press after a long gap of two years and this was the only fourth press conference called by him during his past five years term as a Chief Minister. MORE...

Sikkim Democratic Front has introduced 18 New faces after dropping 20 sitting MLAs

AND THE Sikkim Democratic Front TICKET GOES TO…
Introduced: 18 new faces
Second coming: KT Gyalsten
Dropped: 9 ministers, Deputy Speaker, 10 MLAs

GANGTOK, April 3: After taking weeks of frantic lobbying by ticket aspirants and intra-party tussles, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party threw a bombshell today by dropping down 20 sitting MLAs including 9 ministers and deputy Speaker while retaining 11 party legislatures in its official party candidature list for the forthcoming Assembly elections. Four of them are women. In this subtle move to pump new blood in the party, SDF has introduced 18 new faces while giving ticket to KT Gyalsten who had served a stint as a cabinet minister during 1999-2004 SDF government. MORE...

20 new faces on Sikkim Democratic Front list

The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) today announced its list of candidates for the 32 Assembly and lone Lok Sabha seat. The infusion of 20 new faces and rejection of most of the cabinet members sparked off dissent among their supporters.

Almost all the members of the Pawan Chamling cabinet who had served more than two terms have been dropped. One of the most prominent exclusion is that of D.D. Bhutia who for the past three terms was considered to be the second-in-command in the government. MORE...

UDF urges EC to take stern action against SDF

The United Democratic Front (UDF), a representative body of the Opposition parties, on Friday urged the Election Commission to take stern action against the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) for violating the model code of conduct by allegedly spending Rs. 5 crore on the foundation day celebrations of the ruling party two days ago.

The SDF spent over Rs. Five crore and mobilised about 10,000 vehicles for its foundation day function at Rangpo on March 4, 2009, which amounted to a flagrant violation of the model code of conduct put in place for the forthcoming assembly and parliamentary polls in Sikkim, the UDF Chief Coordinator K N Upreti said in a release on Friday. MORE...

Dual citizenship issue a poly of Chamling and BJP to mislead people: Basant Rai

Throwing a new spin into the ‘dual citizenship’ allegations, Sikkim Jan Ekta Party (SJEP) president Basant Kumar Rai today said that the issued raked up by BJP was a ‘preplanned drama to bring back SDF party in power again’.

Addressing a public meeting organized by SJEP at Siribadam, Rinchenpong constituency in West Sikkim today, the party president accused BJP being financed by SDF to mislead the people with the ‘dual citizenship’ issue.

“This drama has been enacted by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling with BJP to garner sympathy from the people. They are betraying the Sikkimese people with the dual citizenship issue”, said Mr. Rai. MORE...

Hold polls in Sikkim in the first phase, SDF tells EC

Gangtok: “It will be much convenient if the election to the Sikkim Parliamentary constituency and Sikkim Legislative Assembly would be held in the first slot itself as Sikkim goes to both these elections simultaneously”. This was told to Election Commission in its meeting with all political parties in Delhi on Feb3, 2009, by Mr. N. K. Pradhan, Gangtok MLA and General Secretary of ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, informs a press release issued by SDF Publicity Secretary, Mr. T. N. Sharma.
The release further informs that Mr. Pradhan drew attention of EC to the chances of omission of names of many electors consequent upon new delimitation of constituencies and asked “to make sure that none of the genuine electors is left out from the electoral list so that they can exercise their franchise”.