Zilla Adhakshyas and Upadhakshyas confirmed, only North sees a contest

GANGTOK, 27 Nov: The Zilla Adhakshyas and Upadhakshyas for the four districts were elected today with all the names proposed for the said posts by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front from among its elected panchayats confirmed for the posts. While South, East and West districts saw the top-two posts get confirmed uncontested, North Sikkim saw a contest for both posts in SDF vs SDF race to the post. Here as well, the SDF nominees won.


MANGAN: The North District today saw elections for the Zilla Adhakshya and Upadhakshya; a first for the district which has traditionally elected these representatives unopposed. Interestingly, the contest at both levels was between SDF Zilla panchayats and eventually the official party nominees won. This was not without hiccups though as the Upadhakshya post was secured on a narrow margin of 12-10. North district has 22 Zilla panchayat representatives, all of whom participated in the voting today.
Anguli Lepcha has been elected the Zilla Adhakshya of North Sikkim, while Nim Tshering Lepcha who is also the declared SDF candidate was elected Upadhakshya.
Anguli Lepcha, the Zilla panchayat from the Hee-Gyathang GPU of Dzongu, secured 18 votes out of 22 votes while her opponent Lakmit Bhutia who was the uncontested zilla candidate from Rongong-Tumlong GPU of Kabi-Lungtsok constituency secured only 04 votes.
The post of Upadhakshya saw a close contest between Nim Tshering Lepcha [the uncontested zilla panchayat from Toong-Naga GPU] and Kado Lepcha [an uncontested SDF zilla panchayat from Ramthang-Tangyek GPU of Kabi-Lungtsok constituency]. The former secured 12 votes out of 22 while the latter secured 10 votes out of 22.
The 22 Territorial Constituencies from three constituencies of North Sikkim - 11 from Dzongu, 05 from Kabi-Lungtsok and 04 from Lachen-Mangan and 2 Dzumsas (one each from Lachen and Lachung) - elected the Zilla Adhyaksha and Up-Adhyaksha today here at District Administration office in the presence of ADC (North) who is also an Asst Returning Officer, Prabhakar Verma, DDO North, Chewang Gyatso Bhutia and SDM Mangan PW Lepcha.
Before starting the election procedure, the DDO North Chewang Gyatso Bhutia highlighted the rules and regulations of Sikkim Panchayat Election. After the results, the ADC North offered garlands to the new Zilla Adhakshya and Up-Zilla Adhakshya.

GANGTOK: Bimal Dawari who represents Dalapchand Rongli Changelakha Territorial Constituency was elected uncontested for the post of Adhyaksha, East District Zilla Panchayat today. Likewise Kalpana Moktan who represents East Pendam Territorial Constituency was elected uncontested for the post of Upadhyaksha, East District Zilla Panchayat.
Earlier, the District Collector, East, D Anandan administered the oath of office to all the elected Zilla Panchayats of East District at the Conference Hall of District Administrative Centre, Sichey, East Sikkim.

NAMCHI: Zilla Panchayat members of South Sikkim who were elected in the recently held Panchayat polls were sworn in today before the returning officer DC South, AK Singh. The oath taking ceremony was held at the District Administrative Center conference hall, Namchi, South District following which Adhyaksha and Upadhyaksha for South district were also chosen from among them.
The SDF nominees for the two post, CL Gurung [Zilla Panchayat from Rangang-Yangang Territorial Constituency], and Devi Maya Baraily [from Nagi-Pamphok ward Namthang constituency] were elected uncontested as Adhyaksha and Upadhakshya respectively for South District.
Sunita Tamang from Sorok Sampani GPU could not attend the oath taking ceremony due to her ill health. She will be sworn in on a later date it was informed.
During the oath taking ceremony all the Zilla Panchayat members were welcomed with traditional khadas and declaration certificates were presented to all the elected representatives. DC South, AK Singh congratulated all the elected representatives including the newly elected Adhyaksha and Upa-Adhyaksha.
The DC said that the people had trusted them and expressed hope that the representatives would take their respective areas to new dimension of development and work together to build a better society.
After the oath taking ceremony newly elected Adhyaksha CL Gurung and Upa-Adhyaksha Devi Maya Baraily formally visited their respective offices and took charge.

GYALSHING: Devika Subba and Laxmi Prasad Kafley proposed by the ruling party for the posts of Zilla Adhakshya and Upadhakshya respectively were elected uncontested here today.