SDF corners 57% of the wards and 35% Zilla panchayats uncontested with completion of withdrawal process

GANGTOK, 06 Oct: With the deadline to withdraw nomination papers from the Panchayat polls scheduled for 03 November ending today, the final picture of the rural body polls has become clear. As things stand, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front has secured 35.1% of the Zilla Territorial Constituencies in the State uncontested, its candidates already elected to 38 of the 108 Zilla Panchayat wards. Its hold at the ward Panchayat level is even stronger at 57.34% of the wards cornered uncontested – its candidates are through uncontested in 566 of the 987 Panchayat wards in the State. A total of 70 Zilla Panchayats [out of 108] and 420 panchayat wards [out of 987] will be going to poll.
The scenario is marginally more contesting than the last Panchayat polls in 2007 when 585 of the then 889 panchayat wards had been won by SDF uncontested along with 45 of the then 93 Zilla Panchayats.
Even as the process of filing of nomination papers, scrutiny and withdrawals played out for all of rural Sikkim, it was confirmed today that Chandey ward under Thingchim-Chandey GPU did not receive any nomination papers – neither from the SDF nor Independents. DC [North], TW Khangsarpa, while confirming this, informed that bye-elections will be called for this ward after the Panchayat elections are held for the rest of the State.
As for the district-wise break-up as revealed by the completion of the withdrawal process today, SDF has expectedly powered through in South Sikkim, having already secured 46% of the Zilla Panchayats and 63% of the ward Panchayats uncontested.
Out of the 28 Zilla territorial constituencies of in South district, 13 have gone to SDF uncontested. While the party had already bagged seven Zilla Panchayats with no other candidate filing nominations there, today, with the withdrawal of nomination papers by others from six more Zillas, SDF raised its pre-poll tally to 13.
A total of 26 candidates withdrew from the Zilla Panchayat contest in South Sikkim, leaving 49 in the fray for the 15 Zilla wards left. Of these 14 are SDF candidates and 35 Independents. The Kolithang-Mangzing Zilla Panchayat has no official SDF candidate in the fray. The other Zilla Panchayats going to poll in South Sikkim are: Lingi Paiyong, Sripatam-Yangyang, Yangang Rangang, Temi Tarku, Namphing-Barnayak, Pamphok-Mamring, Tangzi-Rateypani, Sadam Suntaley, Rongbul-Maniram, Sorak-Shyampani, Poklok-Chisopani, Tingrithang-Damthang, Tinkitam-Sanganath and Kewzing-Berfung.
Meanwhile for the ward Panchayat polls of South district, out of the 521 nominations filed, 91 nominations were withdrawn today. At this level, SDF has secured 172 of the 271 wards [63.4%] uncontested for the Sikkim Democratic Front Party. The 99 wards which will go to poll in South Sikkim have 230 candidates in the fray.
In North district, 11 nomination papers from the Zilla Panchayats and 28 from ward Panchayats were withdrawn today. Here, SDF has won 14 of the 20 Zilla Panchayats [70%] and 80 of the 109 ward Panchayats [73.3%] uncontested.
The figures for West Sikkim reveal that 23 of the 28 Zilla Panchayats will go to poll with SDF having secured 5 Zilla wards uncontested [17.8%]. At the ward Panchayat level, SDF has bagged 57% of the seats with 181 of the 317 panchayat wards having gone to the ruling party uncontested. Today, a total of four [in Zilla] and 84 [ward Panchayat] nomination papers were withdrawn today.
In East Sikkim, 133 of the 290 ward Panchayats [45.8%] have been won uncontested by the SDF and 157 panchayat wards will be going to polls with 357 candidates in the fray [SDF 150, Congress 01, Independents 206].
Meanwhile, of the 32 Zilla Territorial Constituencies in East Sikkim, six have gone to SDF uncontested [18.7%] and the remaining 26 Zilla Panchayats will see 76 candidates in contest [SDF 26, Cong 02, Independent 48].

Zilla Territorial Constituencies

District	Total Seats	Uncontested Zilla TCs	Going to Poll	No of Candidates
				SDF	IND
East	32	06	26
West	28	5	23
South	28
North	22 [20]	14	06
TOTAL

Total north Sikkim withdrawal- 11

Ward Panchayats

District	Total Seats	Uncontested Wards	Going to Poll	No of withdrawals		No of Candidates
				SDF	IND	SDF	IND
East	290	133	157
West	317	181	136	48	36
South	271
North	111 [109]	80	28
TOTAL

Total north Sikkim withdrawal- 28

[Note- Thangsing-Chandey GPU has not got any nomination from any party or independent, As per DC, TW Khangserpa nobody has filed nomination for this GPU so there will be bye-election after the election]