All prepped, Sikkim awaits announcement of dates for municipal elections

VISHNU NEOPANEY

The State Election Commission, Sikkim, has completed preparations for urban body elections across the State and the final announcement of dates could happen over the next few days, informed Secretary, SEC, Ambika Pradhan, while speaking to NOW! over the phone recently. The State Election Commission, it may be mentioned here, has called a media briefing for 08 September. The election schedule for the municipal elections is expected to be announced at that briefing.

The SEC has completed the preparation part- notified wards for women and other reserved categories long with the reservation pattern for elected posts.
The State has seven urban bodies – the Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Namchi Municipal Council, Singtam Nagar Panchayat, Rangpo Nagar Panchayat, Mangan Nagar Panchayat, Naya Bazaar-Jorethang Municipal Council and Gyalshing Municipal Council.
As per the new reserved category, the post of Mayor for Gangtok has been kept for unreserved category while the Deputy Mayor’s post has been reserved for Scheduled Tribe (women). The post of Singtam Nagar Panchayat president will be for OBC [State List] candidate while the Vice President’s post there will be unreserved as far as community is concerned but to be occupied only by a woman Nagar Panchayat elect.
The post of Rangpo Nagar Panchayat President will go to Scheduled Caste [women] and Vice President will be unreserved women. The post of Mangan Nagar Panchayat President has been earmarked for Scheduled Tribe [Women] while the Vice President there will be for ST.
The post of Namchi Municipal Council Chairperson has been reserved for OBC [Central List] and Vice Chairperson will be Unreserved women, followed by Naya Bazaar-Jorethang Municipal Council, where the chairman’s post has been reserved for OBC [Central List] and Vice Chairperson will be a woman unreserved category.
The chairperson of the Gyalshing Municipal Council will come from OBC [State List] and vice-Chairperson has been reserved for Scheduled Tribe [Women].