Gangtok, March 15 (PTI): On Friday, Pawan Kumar Chamling, the president of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and Chief Minister, revealed the initial list of 18 candidates for the upcoming state Assembly election, set to occur alongside the Lok Sabha polls on April 11. Notably, this list excludes nine current MLAs, including Speaker K N Rai and three ministers. Sikkim’s Assembly comprises 32 seats.
Among the significant changes, Chamling has opted to run in the Poklok Kamrang constituency in South Sikkim—previously held by Rai, who won it in 2014—while also contesting his long-standing seat of Namchi Singithang, where he secured a strong victory in the last election. Aiming for his eighth consecutive term, Chamling has sidelined ministers Sher Bahadur Subedi, Arjun Kumar Ghatani, and Tulsi Devi Rai, introducing fresh faces in their stead. Additionally, five other incumbent SDF MLAs have been left off this first candidate list.
The announced candidates are: Dechen Ongmu Bhutia (Yoksam-Tashiding), N K Subba (Maneybong-Dentam), I M Sharma (Gyalshing Barnyak), K S Lepcha (Rinchenpong), Pem Norbu Sherpa (Daramdin), Dhan Kumari Kami (Salghari-Zoom), Pawan Chamling (Poklok Kamrang and Namchi Singithang), Pharwanti Tamang (Melli), Birjan Tamang (Namthang Rateypani), G M Gurung (Temi Namphing), Raj Kumar Thapa (Rangang Yangang), Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia (Tumen Lingi), D T Lepcha (Gnathang-Machong), Em Prasad Shara (Namcheybung), G T Dhungel (Upper Tadong), Pintso Chopel Lepcha (Gangtok), and Pintso Namgyal Lepcha (Djongu).
Of these 18, three are women: Dhan Kumari Kami (Salghari-Zoom), Pharwanti Tamang (Melli), and Raj Kumari Thapa (Rangang-Yangang). Meanwhile, two sitting women MLAs, Tulsi Devi Rai (Melli) and Tilu Gurung (Namthang Rateypani), were not renominated. According to SDF spokesperson Kisor Kharka, the candidates for the remaining 14 Assembly seats will be disclosed at a later date.
