Election Commission on Saturday announced the election schedule for the Lok Sabha elections and state assembly elections. As per the schedule, the Sikkim Assembly Elections 2024 will be held on April 19, 2024 during phase 1. Through this, the northeastern state will elect 32 members as the tenure of the current government is scheduled to end on June 2.
The state is currently governed by the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) with Prem Singh Tamang as the Chief Minister of the state. The SKM party is ruling in the state, leading its 17 constituencies under CM Tamang's leadership.
The notable constituencies led by the SKM party include Poklok-Kamrang, Yoksam-Tashidingm Gyalshing-Barnyak, and Yangthang. Some of the other Sikkim constituencies under SKM's leadership include Temi-Namphing, Soreng-Chakung, Namthang-Rateypani, and Daramdin, among a few others.
Sikkim Assembly Elections 2019 Recap
In 2019, Sikkim held its 10th Legislative Assembly elections which were held in a single phase on April 11. These too happened alongside the Lok Sabha elections and witnessed a contest between the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM).
However, the SDF, which had been the dominant party in the state for almost 25 years was defeated by the SKM party which gave a tough fight to the ruling party then. SKM emerged victorious, securing 17 seats in comparison to the SDF which secured 15 seats. Thereafter, SKM's Prem Singh Tamang (P.S. Golay) was sworn in as the state's CM.
Although BJP, INC, and the Hamro Sikkim Party also fielded 12, 24, and 23 candidates respectively, none of them secured a seat.
State Assembly Polls 2019 Stats
The previous state elections witnessed a voter turnout of 81.41 percent. Out of the total 434128 electors, the total number of male and female electors were 222110 and 212018 respectively.
The total number of votes recorded was 353415. However, 349467 votes were considered to be valid.
Out of the votes cast, 173235 were male and 166645 were female. A total of 13535 were cast through postal votes out of which 1669 votes were rejected.
Sikkim had 567 polling stations with an average of 766 electors per polling station.
SDF Candidates For State Assembly Polls 2024
Just a few days ahead of the announcement of the election schedule, the SDF on March 11 announced its candidates for six assembly seats. Former CM Pawan Kumar Chamling will fight from the Namchi-Singhithang seat to secure his ninth term as a legislator.
For the other seats in the state's Mangan district, the party fielded former minister Hissey Lachungpa for the Lachen-Mangan (BL-Reserved) constituency, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha from Dzongu (BL-Reserved) and Gnawong Chopel Lepcha from the Kabi-Lungchok (BL-Reserved) seats. From the Tumin Lingee (BL-Reserved) seat the party has named Norzang Lepcha.
In Gangtok district, the party has nominated Ashish Rai for the Arithang seat.
There are 12 BL reserved seats in Sikkim which are for the indigenous Lepcha and Bhutia tribal communities.