Saturday, March 22, 2014

Chamling begins nomination filing process for SDF

PROCESS COMPLETED FOR ALL DISTRICTS EXCEPT EAST
NAMCHI, 21 Mar: Sikkim Democratic Front party president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, filed his nomination papers for the Assembly elections today here at the office of Returning Officer South, DC Prabhaker Verma. Mr. Chamling is contesting from the two assembly seats of South district- Rangang-Yangyang and Namchi-Singithang. With this, the nomination filing process began for the party across the State and all the candidates, save a few from East Sikkim, completed the process today itself. The few pending submissions for East district are expected to be completed on Saturday and latest by Monday, it is informed.
The Chief Minister reached Namchi Central Park today at around 1 p.m. where a mammoth gathering of SDF supporters was waiting for him. He was given a warm welcome here by the party supporters who escorted him till the District Administration Centre. After filing his nomination from two assembly seats, Mr. Chamling emerged to cheering party supporters who were waiting outside the DAC complex. 
His legal officers Jorgay Namka and AJ Sharma were present during the entire official procedure in the office of the RO South.
For Namchi Singithang, Mr. Chamling´s nomination was proposed by Binod Rai, Satish Chandra Rai, Gagan Rai and Himal Tamang, all voters of this constituency. For Rangang-Yangang constituency, his nomination was proposed by Rup Narayan Basnett, Krishna Lall Chettri, Dawa Phurba Sherpa and Rinchen Wangdi Bhutia also voters and SDF supporters of this constituency.
Mr. Chamling, who is of 62 years old, has his details in the electoral roll with serial no 155, part no 14.
Along with the CM, other SDF candidates from constituencies in South Sikkim also filed their nomination papers today. They are Ugen Gyatso Bhutia from Tumin Lingee assembly seat, KN Rai from Poklok Kamrang, Tilu Gurung from Namthang Rateypani constituency, Tulsi Devi Rai from Melli seat, GM Gurung from Temi Namphing and DD Bhutia from Barfung constituency.
The Returning Officer South, Prabhaker Verma cross checked all the documents submitted to him by the candidates and present during the nomination were all the officials engaged in the Nomination duty.
The RO informed that he has accepted all the documents submitted to him with their nomination papers. He added that after receiving the nomination papers, copies of the nomination form and Form 26 (affidavit filed by the candidates) will be displayed in the notice board of DAC and same will also be sent to the GVKs & SDM offices for display in the notice board.
He added that from now onwards after filing of their nomination, all election related expenditure accounting and monitoring will begin and the same will be accounted into the candidate’s expenditure account from the date of their nomination. The 8 candidates who filed their nominations today submitted their bank account details with the RO during the nomination process since it is mandatory to open a separate bank account for this purpose and all election related expenses will be done exclusively through this bank account. The candidates have been given expenditure related document register with necessary instructions for maintaining their accounts which has to be shown to the Election Expenditure Observer.
The Returning Officer also stated that every vehicle used for election campaign by the candidates in South District must have passes issued by the Returning Officer (South) and if any vehicle is found in any campaign without this pass then action will be taken against that vehicle as per ECI guidelines. There is no restriction on number of vehicles to be used in campaign and the permission issued by RO is required to be pasted in original on the vehicle he said. The RO underlined that the permission for campaign vehicle is valid up to 10 April 2014 till 5 pm. He further said that for the Poll day only three vehicles will be allowed as per ECI guidelines i.e. 1 vehicle each for the candidate, Election Agent and his workers.
Mr Verma also notified that any kind of party advertisements appearing in the electronic media in favor of the nominated candidate of South District will have to be pre certified by the District Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).

He also informed that 3 Assembly Constituencies of South Sikkim have been declared Expenditure sensitive are Poklok Kamrang, Namthang Rateypani and Melli. 

VoterSpeak... what the Sikkim voter wants from next government.

“Government should focus more in rural areas and there should be timely disbursement of departmental schemes. Roads need more emphasis as well with use of new technology to improve road conditions”.

LONGCHEN LEPCHA, 39, Naga, North Sikkim.

ECI Expenditure Observer visits West Sikkim

GYALSHING, 21 Mar [IPR]: Expenditure Observer, Rupender Brar appointed by the Election Commissioner of India for General Election 2014 in Sikkim had a meeting today with Expenditure Cell, West, at Conference Hall, DAC.
Ms. Brar highlighted the aims and objectives of the Election Expenditure & Monitoring Committee and stated that there should be complete check and control over the flow of cash and other items that would influence the public while exercising their franchise. Various relevant instructions regarding expenditure were also discussed in order to comply with standing instructions of the Election Commissioner in respect of the expenditure monitoring.


SKM releases second list of 18 candidates

GOLAY TO CONTEST FROM UPPER BURTUK AND SORENG-CHAKUNG; TN DHAKAL GETS LOK SABHA TICKET
GANGTOK, 21 Mar: Sikkim Krantikari Morcha has announced a list of 18 candidates for the upcoming 9th State Assembly and 16th Lok Sabha Election 2014 today. Today’s list includes 17 candidates for the State Assembly seats and 01 for the lone Lok Sabha seat of the state.
With this the party has now announced 22 candidates so far and remaining 10 will be announced on Saturday, it is informed.
The party has fielded TN Dhakal as its Lok Sabha candidate while the party president PS Tamang [Golay] is fighting the election from two seats in Soreng-Chakung [West district] and Upper Burtuk [East district].  
The list of candidates announced today:
Yuksom-Tashiding [BL]- Thutop Bhutia; Yangthang - Karna Bahadur Subba; Maneybung-Dentam- Birbal Subba; Rinchenpong [BL]- Pema Kinzang Bhutia; Soreong-Chakung- Prem Singh Tamang; Salghari-Zoom- Bhanu Pratap Rasaily; Barfung [BL]- Pema Wangyal Bhutia; Namchi-Singhithang- Milan Rai; Tumin-Lingi [BL]- Nedup Tshering Lepcha; Chujachen- KB Gurung; Gnathang-Machong [BL]- Sonam Dorjee Bhutia; Namcheybong- Dilip Rai; Shyari [BL] - Kunga Nima Lepcha; Upper Tadong - Timothy William Basnet; Upper Burtuk - Prem Singh Tamang; Dzongu [BL] - Dawa Lepcha; Sangha - Sonam Kaleon; Lok Sabha- Tek Nath Dhakal.
The party had announced 4 names earlier on Wednesday. Gopal Baraily for West Pendam [SC], Ugen Nedup Bhutia for Kabi Lungchuk [BL], Lalit Sharma for Temi-Namphing and MN Sherpa for Daramdin [BL].
SKM spokesperson, MN Dahal said today that the parliamentary board of the party has given tickets to candidates from all categories and communities as per the desire of the local people. He congratulated and extended his best wishes to all candidates.
On the delay in announcing the candidates list, Mr Dahal said that discussions with the people regarding their choice of candidate took some time. He informed that the party will announce the remaining 10 candidates for the assembly election on Saturday.

SKM general secretary [publicity], Jacob Khaling alleged that the ruling party has been trying to create hindrances for SKM candidates who have high chances of winning in the coming elections. MK Subba, he stated, is one such candidate who has become victim to such attempts. He challenged the CM to allow MK Subba to contest elections from Rangang-Yangang. Here he also alleged of a conspiracy behind Pintso Chopel Lepcha’s arrest on Thursday in order to prevent the latter from contesting the election. 

SDF candidates file nomination papers in North

MANGAN, 21 Mar: The three candidates of Sikkim Democratic Front for constituencies in North Sikkim filed their nomination papers for the upcoming Assembly Elections today. The three candidates are Thinley Tshering Bhutia from Kabi Lungtsok, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha from Dzongu constituency and Tshering Wangdi Lepcha from Lachen Mangan constituency.
They filed their nomination today at District Administrative Centre Mangan where the Returning Officer (RO) North, TN Kazi along with Asst Returning Officer, Raj Yadav received their nomination papers.

The Returning Officer after completing the nomination process informed them about the norms and guidelines to be followed by the candidates while campaigning for the election and further informed that the last date for the withdrawal of nomination is 29 March before 3 pm.

Technicality throws spanner in SKM secretary general’s chances of contesting elections

PENDING VIGILANCE CASES, GOVT REFUSES TO RELIEVE MK SUBBA AND TWO OTHERS FROM SKM FROM GOVT SERVICE
GANGTOK, 20 Mar: Among the first backers of the SKM and for long considered a top candidate for Rangrang-Yangang constituency from where he hails, MK Subba, may not be able to contest the coming elections on grounds that he is still, technically, a government employee. This situation is clearly rankling the party as well, and addressing a press briefing today, the party lashed out against the SDF Government for having conspired to keep Mr. Subba from contesting the elections.
The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha has more concerns to handle than just the fallout of the expected and underlying dissent at the declaration of party tickets for the Assembly polls. The additional headache for the party in announcing its list of candidates comes in the form of the ambiguous status of Mr. Subba, one of its top leaders and expected candidates.
Mr. Subba may have resigned from government service but his resignation has not been accepted. In fact, along with him there are two other former government servants now in the party, namely Milan Silwal and Karma Loday, who terminated their partnership with the government only to have the latter refuse to accept the resignations of any one of them. Meanwhile some government servants who tendered their resignations before them have since been relieved and some even feature in the list of candidates already announced by the party.
The State Government has reportedly refused to accept their resignation letters on the grounds that there are Vigilance cases pending against all three of them.
While Mr. Subba and Mr. Silwal tendered their resignations from government service after the state government had initiated Vigilance inquiries against them, the Vigilance case against Mr. Karma Loday was initiated around a week before his 3-month notice to the government ended.
While the SKM has been able to work out the candidatures of both Mr. Silwal and Mr. Loday, that of Mr. Subba remains. The situation persists and although it is unlikely to be resolved, the party may be holding on to some hope since it is yet to announce a candidate for Rangang-Yangang.
The Sikkim Government Establishment Rules states that a permanent government employee, while he can resign anytime with due notice, is only relieved of government service when his resignation has been accepted by the government. Officials at the Department of Personnel interpreted the rules to say that an employee is free when the government accepts the resignation. The rules say that a resignation when put forward to the concerned department head is considered by the government and accepted, normally, within a period of 3 months. If not the government communicates its decision in writing with explanation.
As mentioned, the state government refused to relieve the three on the grounds that they had Vigilance cases registered against them.

Officials at the Election Department confirmed that a government employee while in service cannot contest elections. The same is also mentioned in the Representation of People’s Act. Either Mr. Subba will have to work out something soon or his ticket is likely to go to some other contender. All three had petitioned the High Court of Sikkim seeking that directions be passed quashing the Vigilance FIRs against them and for the State Government to accept their resignations and relieve them from service. The case was taken up by the High Court on 13 March and had been posted for a hearing on 10 April. They have since withdrawn their petition from the Court it is informed. 

Gangtok Mayor likely to join SKM

GANGTOK, 21 Mar: Political loyalties continue to fluctuate with news of the Gangtok Mayor KN Topgay expected to tender his resignation from the post of Mayor, quit the party on 22 March and officially join the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha [SKM].
As of now, this is not official but sources inform that he has made up his mind of resigning from the post of Mayor, and the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] party and then join the SKM party.
Sources close to Mr. Topgay admit that he was an SDF party ticket aspirant for either Gangtok or Syari, but what pushed him over the edge was what he saw as dismissive and almost hostile attitude of some of his colleagues in the party who are now the official candidates.

SKM party officials, when contacted, confirmed that they were in talks with Mr. Topgay, but said that nothing was official yet. As mentioned, it is likely that he will complete the formalities on Saturday. Speculations are rife that he is being considered for the Gangtok ticket by SKM. Gangtok is among the 10 constituencies for which the party has not announced it candidates yet.

West nominations

GYALSHING, 21 Mar: Sikkim Democratic Front candidates filed their nomination papers for their respective constituencies in West Sikkim today. The ruling party candidates from all eight constituencies in West Sikkim submitted their nominations to the District Collector and Returning Officer, Chewang Gyatso Bhutia at his office.

Sonam Dadul Bhutia from Yuksom-Tashiding, Chandra Maya Subba from Yangthang, NK Subba from Dentam, SB Subedi from Geyzing-Bermiok, Karma Sonam Lepcha from Rinchenpong, DN Sherpa from Daramdin, RB Subba from Chakung-Soreng and Arjun Kumar Ghatani from Zoom-Salghari submitted their nominations today. 

West nominations

GYALSHING, 21 Mar: Sikkim Democratic Front candidates filed their nomination papers for their respective constituencies in West Sikkim today. The ruling party candidates from all eight constituencies in West Sikkim submitted their nominations to the District Collector and Returning Officer, Chewang Gyatso Bhutia at his office.

Sonam Dadul Bhutia from Yuksom-Tashiding, Chandra Maya Subba from Yangthang, NK Subba from Dentam, SB Subedi from Geyzing-Bermiok, Karma Sonam Lepcha from Rinchenpong, DN Sherpa from Daramdin, RB Subba from Chakung-Soreng and Arjun Kumar Ghatani from Zoom-Salghari submitted their nominations today. 

Sikkim Flower Show

The Sikkim Flower Show Committee organized the customary inaugural of the Flower Show 2014 at the Flower Exhibition Centre at Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal Memorial Park, near White Hall Complex, Gangtok on the 18th March 2014. The inaugurationwas done by the HonourableGovernor of Sikkim, Shri. Shriniwas Patil. Present during the inaugural function were the Chairman Flower show Committee and officers of the floriculture section of Horticulture Department. The Honourable Governor of Sikkim acknowledged that the visit to the flower-show was a rewarding experience. He statedthat it felt like heaven to be sitting in the lap of Khangchendzonga surrounded by the most exquisite flowers. Next year since the flower show would be celebrating its silver-jubilee, he suggested that that this should be converted into a mega showduly projecting the State of Sikkim in all its splendour. He further committed that he would announce the Governors Gold Medal for winners in the coming year.
This year in addition to the hybrid species the organizers have planned that from now on special emphasis will be given to species orchids and their variations in order to encourage conservation and impart knowledge to younger generations.
There we several specific categories under which the participants could contest and the prizes were accorded as per the category. The judging of the participating contestants was done on 17th March 2014 by a panel of experienced judges namely Shri. Mohan Pradhan- Orchid Expert, Sudizong Lucksom- Retired Forest Officer and an authority on Sikkim Orchid, Mr. Padam Subba Joint Director and Mr. D.K.Bhandari, Addl. Director Floriculture.
The name of the contestants so awarded under different categories is as under:
Division A: Special Division "Sikkim Flower Festival orchid Award"
 Class : Display of 50 pots of Cymbidium Hybrids in Bloom
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
1,00,000
Shankar, Dhiraj and Biraj – Mirik
2nd
50,000
Sangay Gyampo Bhutia – Pakyong
3rd
20000 each
Tie between Development Womens Co-operative Society- Gangtok and Milan Rai- Mirik
Special Prize
15,000
None
Division B
Class 1: Cymbidium Hybrids-standard-White-Ivory
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2,500
SumanGurung – Mirik
2nd
2,000
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
3rd
1,500
Minal Rai – Mirik
Class 2: Cymbidium Hybrids-standard-Golden Yellow-Orange Apricot
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2500
Karma Tempa Bhutia
2nd
2000
Karma Tempa Bhutia
Class 2 - Cymbidium Hybrid Intermediate (Red and Brown)
1st
2500
Biswas Rai – Mirik
2nd
2000
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
Class 3: Cymbidium Hybrids-standard-Pink Rose
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2500
Yalamber Rai – Mirik
2nd
2000
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
3rd
1500
Sangay Gyampo Bhutia – Karthok
Class 4: Cymbidium Hybrids-standard-Green Shades
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2500
Prem Kumar Dahal - Namcheybung/Pakyong
2nd
2000
Dheraj Rai – Mirik
3rd
1500
Karma Bhutia - Karthok, Pakyong
Division C
Class:1 Cymbidium Hybrids - Intermediate/Minature Gold and Yellow
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2500
B.B.Gurung - Namcheybung Pakyong
2nd
2000
Karma Bhutia - Karthok, Pakyong
3rd
1500
Sangay Gyamu Bhutia, Pakyong
Class 2: Cymbidium Hybrids-Intermediate/Minature White and Ivory
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2500
None
2nd
2000
None
3rd
1500
Sangay Tsering Bhutia - Pakyong.
Class 3: Cymbidium Hybrids - Intermediate/Minature Green
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2500
Gyamtso Bhutia – Payong
2nd
2000
Sangay Tsering Bhutia - Pakyong.
3rd
1500
Sangay Tsering Bhutia - Pakyong.
Division D
Class 1 - Display of different species of natural orchids (not hybrids) with correct botaical names
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
15000
Aten Subba – Mirik
2nd
10000
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
Division E
Class 1 - Specimen Plant of Cymbidium eburneum
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2500
Pranita Rai - Sampur Gangtok
2nd
2000
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
3rd
1500
BijayChetttri – Samdur
Class 2 - Specimen plant of Cymbidium lowainum
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2500
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
2nd
2000
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
Division F
Class 1 - Specimen Plant of Cymbidium hookerianum
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2000
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
2nd
1000
None
Division G
Class 2 - Specimen plant of Cymbidium devonianum
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2000
None
2nd
1000
Susan Bhutia- Gangtok
Division H
Class 1 Paphiopedilum venustum
Rank
Prize
Name of contestant
1st
2000
Development Womens Co-oprative Society – Gangtok
2nd
1500
Florence Tamang – Gangtok