CHAMLING CONFIDENT OF MARSHALLING INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT, ANNOUNCES HE WILL TAKE OPPOSITION INTO CONFIDENCE AS WELL AND WILL NOT IGNORE THEM

Not without the Opposition
THINK FOR SIKKIM FOR FIRST 4 YEARS, THE LAST ONE YEAR IS ENOUGH FOR POLITICS: CHAMLING

VISHNU NEOPANEY
GANGTOK, June 24: The discussions saw some sharp exchanges and strong words in the Assembly today, but the takeaway after the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address was passed by voice vote was the positive pose struck by Leader of the House, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling. Although he was blistering in some of his retorts to points raised by SKM MLAs, Mr. Chamling concluded his remarks striking a pleasant chord, offering to reach across the aisle to the Opposition bench and promising to engage SKM members in the House in decision making and taking them into confidence in development planning and delivery. In the “march of prosperity” for Sikkim, he stressed, he would not like to progress without the Opposition’s support.
Gesturing to the packed Treasury bench in the Assembly, Mr. Chamling said, “Whatever be the numbers here, I do not want to move ahead without you (the Opposition). I don’t want to proceed on the basis of the mandate given to SDF party alone... I want to move ahead on the strength of consensus.”
Highlighting that the MLAs have now graduated from being candidates to becoming “ambassadors of hope”, Mr. Chamling, in his two hour five minute long speech, assured that he was open to criticism and willing to learn - whether about world-class organic production in Sikkim or a well-run public distribution system has to be put in place.
“If we have your support, we can make Sikkim the best state. Think of the state for the first four years, the last year is enough for politics. The duty of all MLAs is to work for the state,” he said.
Positive and constructive opposition, he shared, will help achieve the Missions set for the State to become the best in the country and went on to urge them to shoulder their responsibilities well and deliver responsibly on their duties in public interest.
He also invited the opposition MLAs to bring what they consider priority undertaking to him to be addressed in public interest. The elections, he pointed out, are over and now legislators will have to deliver for the public without differentiation.
The Chief Minister, as mentioned, was replying to points raised by the Legislators in the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s address.
While replying to the points raised by the members of MLAs from both the treasury and opposition benches, Mr. Chamling said that while the status of the health sector has improved, the government continues investing its best efforts towards overcoming the shortage of human resource in medical and paramedical field. He also urged the opposition MLAs to bring up issues whenever they see the government slacking.
He also assured the House that the State government will not politicise teachers and called on the teachers to deliver quality education to students, a task for which they will receive all required assistance.
MLAs Dr. Michung Bhutia, Ugen Nidup Bhutia, Pintso Chopel Lepcha, Chandra Maya Subba, BB Rai, KN Lepcha, Prem Singh Tamang, Sonam Lama, Bikram Pradhan and Shyam Sundar Pradhan took part in discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s address.