Intro: Sikkim will go to poll on 12 April 2014. In keeping with the mood, we bring to our readers, on one election per day basis, a look back at Assembly elections in Sikkim since 1979 when the first elections as a part of India were held in the State. The daily capsule will cover one election per day and provide details like the names of victors and runners-up from all 32 constituencies and their respective vote-share. The constituencies had different names and boundaries before 2009 when the new delimitation came into effect. The rest of the country might be undertaking opinion polls and poll projections, but at NOW! we believe that going over past records can help make better sense of ongoing issues and trends.
We hope our readers enjoy this exercise as much as we enjoyed putting it together. We begin the series with Election 1985.
Elections 1985
Total number of voters: 1,55,041 [M: 83,806; F: 71,235]
Parties in the fray: Sikkim Sangram Parishad, Sikkim Prajatantra Congress, CPI, CPIM, Indian National Congress, Janta Party
195 candidates were in the fray for the 32 seats in 1984, down substantially from the 244 who contested in 1979. The national parties fielded 55 candidates collectively between them while the two regional parties fielded 46 – SSP contesting all 32 seats and SPC contesting 14. Independents made up the single largest group at 95. Gangtok again received the highest number of contestants at 12, down from 17 candidates in 1979, but still staggeringly high by present day standards.
Voter Turnout: 64.13% [M: 67.43%; F: 60.26%]
OUTCOME: Nar Bahadur Bhandari-led SSP bagged 31 of 32 Assembly constituencies, securing 62.20% of the votes cast. The only seat it lost was Gangtok which elected an Independent candidate, Balchand Sarda, who defeated Dil Kumari Bhandari. This was a significant election because it marked the coming of age of regional parties in Sikkim politics. Mr. Bhandari had merged his Sikkim Janta Parishad with the Congress only to get deposed in 1984. He launched the Sikkim Sangram Parishad and swept the elections. Another highlight was SSP’s Namkha Gyaltsen defeating Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche [the sitting Sangha MLA at the time and contesting as an Indian National Congress candidate] for the Sangha seat. This was also the election with which Pawan Chamling debuted in the Legislative Assembly, winning on an SSP ticket from Damthang. There were 11 women candidates in fray; none of them won.
We hope our readers enjoy this exercise as much as we enjoyed putting it together. We begin the series with Election 1985.
Elections 1985
Total number of voters: 1,55,041 [M: 83,806; F: 71,235]
Parties in the fray: Sikkim Sangram Parishad, Sikkim Prajatantra Congress, CPI, CPIM, Indian National Congress, Janta Party
195 candidates were in the fray for the 32 seats in 1984, down substantially from the 244 who contested in 1979. The national parties fielded 55 candidates collectively between them while the two regional parties fielded 46 – SSP contesting all 32 seats and SPC contesting 14. Independents made up the single largest group at 95. Gangtok again received the highest number of contestants at 12, down from 17 candidates in 1979, but still staggeringly high by present day standards.
Voter Turnout: 64.13% [M: 67.43%; F: 60.26%]
OUTCOME: Nar Bahadur Bhandari-led SSP bagged 31 of 32 Assembly constituencies, securing 62.20% of the votes cast. The only seat it lost was Gangtok which elected an Independent candidate, Balchand Sarda, who defeated Dil Kumari Bhandari. This was a significant election because it marked the coming of age of regional parties in Sikkim politics. Mr. Bhandari had merged his Sikkim Janta Parishad with the Congress only to get deposed in 1984. He launched the Sikkim Sangram Parishad and swept the elections. Another highlight was SSP’s Namkha Gyaltsen defeating Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche [the sitting Sangha MLA at the time and contesting as an Indian National Congress candidate] for the Sangha seat. This was also the election with which Pawan Chamling debuted in the Legislative Assembly, winning on an SSP ticket from Damthang. There were 11 women candidates in fray; none of them won.
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Constituency
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Winner [with party and vote share in brackets]
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Runner-up [with party and vote share in brackets]
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Yuksom
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Sanchaman Subba [SSP, 49.37%]
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Shrijetha Subba [INC, 17.56%]
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Tashiding (ST)
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Ugen Pintso Bhutia [SSP, 65.95%]
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Dawgyal Pintso Bhutia [INC, 26.74%]
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Geyzing
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Man Bahadur Dahal [SSP, 54.99%]
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Dawa Norbu Kazi [Indp, 22.26%]
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Dentam
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Padam Lall Gurung [SSP, 77.19%]
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Laxmi Prasad Subba [INC, 16.88%]
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Barmiok
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Birbal Subba [SSP, 43.79%]
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Manita Pradhan [INC, 41.37%]
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Rinchenpong (ST)
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Ongdi Bhutia [SSP, 45.93%]
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Degey Bhutia [Indp, 21.32%]
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Chakung
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Taraman Rai [SSP, 57.18%]
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Bhim Bahadur Gurung [INC, 37.50%]
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Soreong
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Nar Bahadur Bhandari [SSP, 80.48%]
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Durga Lama Pradhan [INC, 17.19%]
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Daramdin
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Padam Bdr Gurung [SSP, 63.71%]
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Ram Bahadur Subba [INC, 31.42%]
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Jorthang-Nayabazar
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Bhim Raj Rai [SSP, 68.89%]
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Asharman Rai [INC, 14.91%]
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Ralong (ST)
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Sonam Gyatso [SSP, 67.42%]
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Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa [INC,
22.88%]
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Wak
|
Bedu Singh Chettri [SSP, 69.10%]
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Chandra Das Rai [INC, 25.83%]
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Damthang
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Pawan Kumar Chamling [SSP, 73.79%]
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Pradeep Yonzon [INC, 16.79%]
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Melli
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Dilli Ram Basnet [SSP, 70.81%]
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Girish Chandra Rai [INC, 23.43%]
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Rateypani-West Pendam (SC)
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Chandra Kumar Mohra [SSP, 68.45%]
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Badree Thatal[INC, 16.84%]
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Temi-Tarku
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Indra Bahadur Rai [SSP, 69.83%]
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DB Basnet [INC, 10.74%]
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Central Pendam-East Pendam
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Sukumar Pradhan [SSP, 63.44%]
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B. Kharel [INC, 32.53%]
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Rhenock
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Kharananda Upreti [SSP, 59.74%]
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BP Dahal [INC, 23.41%]
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Regu
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Tulshi Sharma [SSP, 45.46%]
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Karna Bahadur [INC, 28.58%]
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Pathing (ST)
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Ram Lepcha [SSP, 72.72%]
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Sangay Dorjee Bhutia [INC, 25.38%]
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Loosing-Pacheykhani
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Bhakia Bahadur Khulal [SSP, 67.48%]
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Ram Chandra Paudyal [INC, 31.91%]
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Khamdong (SC)
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Birkhaman Ramukami [SSP, 80.76%]
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Purna Bahadur [INC, 16.84%]
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Djongu (ST)
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Sonam Choda Lepcha [SSP, 62.83%]
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Athup Lepcha [INC, 32.72%]
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Lachen-Mangshila (ST)
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Thokchok Bhutia [SSP, 59.06%]
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Tenzing Dadul [INC, 36.62%]
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Kabi Tingda (ST)
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Kalzang Gyatso [SSP, 48.70%]
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Geyching Bhutia[INC, 33.72%]
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Rakdong Tintek (ST)
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Phuchung Bhutia [SSP, 62.53%]
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Sonam Tshering Bhutia [INC, 19.35%]
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Martam (ST)
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Chamla Tshering Bhutia [SSP, 73.60%]
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Palden Wangchuk [INC, 22.50%]
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Rumtek (ST)
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Ongay Tob Bhutia [SSP, 61.44%]
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Rinzing Ongmu [INC, 20.15%]
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Assam Lingjey (ST)
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Sonam Dabden Lepcha[SSP, 55.87%]
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Sherab Palden [INC, 34.33%]
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Ranka (ST)
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Dorji Tshering Bhutia [SSP, 65.57%]
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Namgyal Topgay Bhutia [INC, 32.09%]
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Gangtok
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Balchand Sarda [Indp, 43.17%]
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Dil Kumari Bhandari [SSP, 37.56%]
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Sangha
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Namkha Gyaltsen [SSP, 52.32%]
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Lachen Rinpoche [INC, 47.68%]
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