SDF indifferent to KN Topgay and BT Tamang joining SKM

GANGTOK, 23 Mar: Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] is unaffected by Gangtok Mayor KN Topgay and Namchi Municipal chairperson BT Tamang leaving the party and joining the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha [SKM], said SDF spokesperson, Bhim Dahal on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Mr Dahal said that it is not a loss for SDF that the two have joined an “undemocratic, violent and anti-people party” leaving a “democratic, peaceful and pro-people” unit. High aspirations have finished Mr Topgay’s political life, he added.

SDF CEC member, Chewang Namgyal alleged that Mr Topgay joining the SKM party has revealed his selfish interests.

On Mr Topgay’s allegations of the Gangtok Municipal Corporation being a powerless authority, Mr Dahal said that the 273 and 254 amendments to the constitution accord power to municipal bodies that even the state government cannot have any say over. “It was the ruling party that revived the municipal corporation after a long gap in 2010 and they did not find any weakness in the municipal corporations when they were in the party,” he commented.

Mr Dahal informed that the party has lodged a formal complaint regarding the attack on its West district general secretary, BB Rai on the Gyalshing-Legship road by some masked men. While strongly condemning the incident, he urged the administration to take strong action against the culprits.