Pipon elections held in Lachung

STAND-OFF AT KHEDUM BLOCK AS BOTH CANDIDATES CLAIM VICTORY
GANGTOK, 19 Dec: Coming close on the heels of the recently-concluded panchayat elections comes news of another interesting democratic tradition of the State - the election of the Pipons under the Dzumsa system in North Sikkim. Held on the first day of Losoong, 14 Dec, the process turned tense in one of the blocks of Lachung.
The elections for the posts of Pipon in the two blocks of Lachung, namely Lema Block and Khedum Block, were held on 14 December; while the election in Lema went peacefully, there is now a stand-off between two contesting candidates for the Pipon seat in Khedum block with both claiming to be winners. While this had initially led to a tense situation in Lachung, as DC [North], TW Khangsarpa, informs, the situation has calmed down now.
Two candidates claiming to have won the election at Khedum are Nedup Lachungpa and Karma Lachungpa; the latter is also the incumbent Pipon who was contesting for a second term as Pipon for Khedum. It is informed that Nedup Lachungpa had been declared winner by the Chultimpa of the Lachung Gumpa.
On the other hand Karma Lachungpa also declared himself as winner and proceeded to submit his winning declaration to the concerned authority, the Chungthang SDM who was present at the venue of the election which took place at the Thomchy School ground. As of now the matter is yet to be resolved.
The DC, while confirming the stand-off between the two contestants, informed that the matter will now proceed to the court of the prescribed authority which is the Secretary, RMD Department. This is as per the Sikkim Panchayat Act in which is also incorporated the procedure of election to the Dzumsa in North Sikkim. In fact the DC also held a meeting between the two candidates and informed them of the process to be followed and the authority which will finally dispense the matter.
With the RMDD Secretary presently in New Delhi, the matter remains unresolved. As regards the Pipon elections itself, the DC stated that since this was a traditional kind of election the administration does not involve itself directly in the matter or interfere with the process and especially as the election process has not been codified. The only charge of the administration is the maintenance of law and order.
So the reason why both candidates claim to have won has not been scrutinized yet and will have to await the arrival of the prescribed authority. However both claim to have got the majority votes of the 284 strong electorate of Khedum block, Lachung. The Pipon elections for Lachen are scheduled for February 2013.

Feuding groups at ASGTBA agree to hold fresh elections

HIGH COURT APPOINTS 3-MEMBER COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS TO ASGTBA CEC

GANGTOK, 24 June: The All Sikkim Gurung (Tamu) Buddhist Association has dissolved its executive body and the two groups challenging the locus standii of the other, agreed to hold fresh election to the Central Executive Committee of the association. This undertaking to hold fresh elections was given to the High Court of Sikkim recently which then issued directions appointing a 3-member committee to conduct the elections.
These directions were passed on 13 June 2012 when the High Court took up the revision petition filed by TB Gurung and his associates challenging the lower court’s verdict on the issue.
The present body headed by HB Gurung was elected on 26 December 2010 through secret ballot and the election reportedly conducted with observers from Law and Justice Department and Election Department. Later, TB Gurung, former president of Association, challenged the entire election process and the validity of the body elected in 2010 in the court of the Civil Judge (Judicial Magistrate) at Gangtok. The Civil Court has upheld the present body citing that the tenure of TB Gurung and his executive body had completed much before the election was conducted in 2010.
Chief Justice Permod Kohli, following the willingness of both parties to hold fresh elections, appointed a three-member committee headed by Advocates SS Hamal [as Convener], and DR Thapa and Karma Thinlay Namgyal [as members], to conduct the election.
The High Court directed both the groups to permit the Committee to take over the records of the Association for the purpose of holding election.
The High Court has also directed the three-member committee to prepare a list of enrolled eligible voters in accordance with the memorandum of Association or Bye-laws of the All Sikkim Gurung (Tamu) Buddhist Association which will be notified and put on the Notice Board at its office situated at Indira Bye-pass road, Burtuk, Gangtok for a weeks time.
The Court has also granted liberty to file any objection to the voters list prepared by the election committee and after dealing with the objections; final list will be published and the date for election, nomination paper and withdrawal notified.
The High Court has also directed the parties to make equal contributions for completing the process of election as may be required and the amount of expenses required by the committee is to be drawn by TB Gurung and Binod Gurung from the respective accounts maintained by them in the name of the Association.
The High Court has also directed the parties that no documents for sale or acquisition of property be executed by any party nor any executed documents be registered till the election is held. The Court has granted liberty to the newly elected body to deal with the properties of the Association in accordance with the Bye-laws or memorandum of Association and law governing the society.
HB Gurung told media-persons later that ‘groupism’ will not be accepted in future in the Gurung community and that each member of the association will co-operate with the election committee to make the forthcoming elections successful.

AKRS-East meets and retains existing body

GANGTOK, 18 March: The coordination meeting cum election of the East District Committee of the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh was convened here at the STNM Hospital conference hall today under the chairmanship of AKRS president, Dr SK Rai, a press release informs.
The meeting was also attended by South Zilla Adakshya BM Rai, chief patron of Sapten Mangkhim  Ranka Mohan Dungmali, East District president Binita Rai and members from different block level branches of the organization in East district.
The east district general secretary, DK Rai, presented the details of accounts and informed that although the State Government has allotted a site at Lumsey in Tadong, the construction for a Rai Khim remains a challenge for the district committee. In this regard, he appealed to all block level members of the organization for contributions to assist the completion of the project.
It was also informed during the meeting that the field and official work for the construction has been completed and construction order has also been approved, and in this regard, the work put in by KR Rai, treasurer, East District Committee, was appreciated by all present at the meeting, the release adds.
Representatives from the block level committees also addressed the meeting and issued of Rai script and language were also discussed.
After dissolving the existing  AKRS Sikkim East District Committee , elections for the new body were conducted and all the eight block committee members decided to retain the existing body with a few changes in the posts.

Hissey elected to Rajya Sabha

GANGTOK, 25 Jan: Former Minister Hissey Lachungpa, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front candidate for the Rajya Sabha, received the Certificate of Election to Rajya Sabha from the Returning Officer, Sikkim Legislative Assembly Secretary, D Rinchen, at the SLA premises today. 

The former Minister and three-time MLA from North Sikkim was elected unopposed to Sikkim’s lone seat in Rajya Sabha. He was serving as the Political Advisor to the Chief Minister before filing his candidature.  Mr Lachungpa filed his nomination papers on 20 January after he was announced as the SDF candidate by the Parliamentary Committee of the party. Mr Lachungpa’s nomination was supported by four MLAs - Bhim Prasad Dhungel, Beg Bahadur Rai, Menlom Lepcha and Dorjee Namgyal. 

Today’s function was also attended by the SLA Speaker, KT Gyaltsen, Ministers, MLAs, Gangtok Municipal Corporation members and supporters of Mr Lachungpa, who later on congratulated him by offering khadas. 

Speaking to media-persons after receiving the confirmation of his election to the Rajya Sabha, Mr Lachungpa expressed his deep gratitude towards the SDF president, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, SDF family, well wishers and people of Sikkim for putting their trust and responsibility on him. 

He stated that he will pursue Sikkim’s pending issues with the Centre and raise new issues of the State in the Upper House and work in favour of the people of Sikkim during his whole tenure. 

“I will try my best to work for better coordination between the state and the centre for the welfare of Sikkim and its people,” Mr. Lachungpa said.

NASBO hopes tradition of sending BL representatives to Rajya Sabha will continue

GANGTOK, 11 Jan: The National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation [NASBO], has called upon all political parties, particularly the ruling party that it continue with the tradition of displaying the “most sustained and exemplary system of political-social harmony with regard to its exercises in the parliamentary system”, in a press release issued by its president, Sonam Kaleon.
“We believe and call upon all the political parties and particularly the ruling party that it will continue with the tradition by providing one more able and capable MP (Rajya Sabha) from the Sikkimese BL community like in the past viz. late Kalzang Gyatso, PT Gyamtso and OT Lepcha”, the release states.

EC announces Biennial Elections to the Council of States

GANGTOK, 09 Jan: Rajya Sabha MP of Sikkim, OT Lepcha’s term of office is due to end on 23 February and the Election Commission of India has decided to hold a Biennial Election to the Council of States from Sikkim to fill the vacancy informs a press release issued by the Director, Election Commission, Yashvir Singh.
According to the release, the last date of making nominations is 20 Jan, scrutiny of nominations will take place on 21 Jan and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is 23 Jan. While, the polling is scheduled to take place on 30 Jan from 9 AM to 4 PM, the counting of votes is to be completed by 5 PM the same day. The election is to be completed by 03 February, the release adds.

SPA elects new executive committee

GANGTOK, 27 Nov: The Sikkim Press Association [SPA] formed its new Executive Committee at a hotel in Deorali on 26 November, informs a press release. All candidates stood for elections uncontested.

Elections called for Sikkim Medical Council

GANGTOK, 31 Aug: The State government has notified the election process for the Sikkim Medical Council. Under the Sikkim Medical Registration Act-2005 and the Sikkim Medical Registration Rules 2007 elections are to be held for the various posts in the Sikkim Medical Council.
The date for filing of claims and objections was 30 August. The revision of the final electoral role will be will be published in the official gazette while the voting by postal ballot is scheduled for 10 September.
The last date of nomination is 20th September, date of scrutiny of nomination on 23 September and the last date of withdrawal of nomination on 26 September. The last date of receipt of voting paper is 19 October and the date of counting of votes scheduled for 20 October. 

Bhim Rawat elected Press Club president

GANGTOK, 29 June: The Press Club of Sikkim unanimously elected Bhim Rawat as its president, Joseph Lepcha as general secretary, Babbu Tamang as treasurer, Kabita Sharma as assistant treasurer, Nirmal Mangar as publicity secretary, Arjun Rai as literary secretary and Sagar Chettri as culture secretary. All of them sailed through uncontested.