SKM’s 10 will deliver for the people, Golay assures

GANGTOK, 17 May: Sikkim Krantikari Morcha president PS Tamang [Golay] has assured that the 10 MLAs of the party will deliver on their duties as the opposition in the State Assembly for the next 5 years. SKM respects and accepts the mandate of the people of Sikkim and the party will continue to struggle and work for the welfare of the Sikkimese, he stated.

Mr Tamang, who won from Upper Burtuk in East Sikkim even as he lost from Namthang-Rateypani in South Sikkim, along with the nine SKM MLAs spoke with media persons at a press conference here at the SKM party head-office today.

“We will speak for the people in the assembly of Sikkim,” he said while addressing the press conference.

He credited the people of Sikkim and SKM workers for the party’s victory in ten constituencies of the state on its electoral debut. He thanked the people in rural and urban areas, government employees, police, home guards, IRBn, SAP and businessmen of Sikkim.

While congratulating Sikkim Democratic Front party on winning 22 seats and the MP seat as well, Mr. Tamang expressed hope that the SDF government will do justice to the people’s mandate.

“I started the movement alone after the 2009 election. Now there are 10 MLAs in the opposition which will work better for the people,” he said.

Responding to media queries, the SKM president said that in the next five years the party’s priority would be the Local Protection Act for the security of Sikkimese people and to end corruption in the state.

On his party winning constituencies only in and around Gangtok, Mr Tamang stated that these areas have “intellectual” and young voters who understand the situation of presentday Sikkim so they gave their mandate to SKM.

On his party’s rout in South, West and North districts of Sikkim, Mr Tamang said that SKM has given a good fight to a 20-year-old party which has been in power for the same number of years. He added that some shortcomings in terms of election management within the party cadre could be the reason behind the party’s defeat in the two districts. However, he added that the party has lost with close margins.