ALL SIKKIM WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Fambongla XI to take on Norbugang XI for the Cup
GANGTOK, 07 Nov: It is Fambongla XI [East] against Norbugang XI [West] for the final match of the All Sikkim Women’s Football Tournament scheduled to be played here at Paljor Stadium on Friday.
In the second semi-final match played today, Fambongla XI beat Mainam XI 1-0. Prikila Tamang scored the lone winning goal for Fambongla XI in the 10th minute of the match.
Likewise, in the first semi-final match played yesterday, Norbugang XI thrashed Tendong XI 6-1 to get into the finals of the tournament. For Norbugang XI, Nima Lhamu Bhutia scored a brace and Mongmit Lepcha, Phurp Dolma Bhutia, Pavitra Limboo and Nima Doma Bhutia scored one goal each. The lone goal for Tendong XI was scored by Anjali Rai.

CORRIGENDUM

This is with reference to the news-report on the final results of the panchayat elections in North Sikkim published in NOW! issue dated 06 Nov 2012 under the headline, “SDF sweeps North Zillas, Independents secure small toehold at ward level”. In the details included for the Tingmoo Ghaikhana ward under Kabi-Tingda GPU, the following vote share “Chey Lhamu Sherpa (Ind) 257 and Bibi Doma Tamang (SDF) 120”, should be read as “Chey Lhamu Sherpa (IND) 137 and Bibi Doma Tamang (SDF) 120”.
The error is regretted.
-Editor

Editorial: Celebrate in Peace

Political violence should have no place in a democracy. As this space has often argued, when the weapon of the ballot was handed to the people, the need for physical violence was made redundant because not only are votes more empowering, they are also more effective tools to decide who wields power on behalf of the people and how. In this context, the Tuesday assault of an Independent ward panchayat in East Sikkim becomes condemnable, more so because the victim happens to be a woman. This one incident will undoubtedly tarnish a celebratory moment for Sikkim as it welcomes a new batch of rural Sikkim representatives, at least half of whom are women. The coming days will see the incident get both, sensationalised and trivialised depending on which side is commenting on it. That, while expected, would be ill-advised because the incident is already shocking enough without needing to take recourse to embellishments, and trivialisation is not possible because when one speaks of an assault on a woman, one is ill-advised to start discussing the scale or severity of the assault because it is not only the deed but also the intent which needs to be roundly condemned to deter future repeats. The panchayat elections were keenly contested this time, witnessing more contests than ever in the past and added to the mix was the confrontational approach of the SDF dissident camp. Major incidents occurred in the run-up to the polls, so it was a relief when the elections were eventually conducted peacefully. In fact, the actual voting process has rarely seen violence in Sikkim, but the lapse into post-poll violence is something that all concerned need to develop stronger defences against. The incident in question obviously did not begin pre-planned, but the fact that it still transpired demands that party youth and supporters are better briefed and monitored. It will also be unwise for the ruling party to ignore the incident or try to defend it. Addressing the issue directly and taking the brickbats on the chin if its supporters have faltered should be the recommended approach because that will set the right precedence. More so because it will mark out the Tuesday incident as an aberration and not the norm as its detractors will try to paint it as. If aggression is going to infiltrate the political process in the coming days, it will be important for leaders of all sides to marshal their supporters more responsibly and closely because now the people will be watching public conduct even more closely and no one in Sikkim condones violence. Continuance of peace is embedded in the verdict rural Sikkim has awarded to the ruling Front and with the clean sweep, it has shouldered the party with an even greater responsibility to sustain peace.

SDF sweeps panchayat polls, improves on 2007 performance

GANGTOK, 05 Nov: The run-up to Panchayat polls 2012 had heated up to a level which had increased speculations on the people’s verdict sealed in EVMs which were opened for counting today. Substantially more Zilla and Panchayat wards went to polls on 03 November 2012 than were required in the last elections held in 2007. Any hopes of Opposition-backed Independents making any dent in the hustings were however misplaced as the SDF went on to improve even further on its 2007 performance, blanking out Independents completely from two districts at the Zilla level and holding them to the 2007 tally in the remaining two.
The ruling Front has secured 103 of 108 Zilla panchayat wards in the State, leaving only 5 seats for Independent Candidates. In 2007, even though there were slightly fewer Zilla seats at 93, Independents had managed to bag seven. In percentage points, SDF occupies 95.37% of the Zilla wards now against its share of 91.39% in the last panchayat.
Opposition-backed panchayat campaigns failed to break the Independent drought at the Zilla level in West Sikkim and saw their tally fall in South Sikkim. No Independents won a Zilla seat in West district either in 2007 or this time around and in South district Independents saw their tally come down from three in 2007 to One in 2012. And even this is only a technicality in that the Zilla which was bagged by an Independent in South Sikkim had no official SDF candidate and both Independents in the fray were SDF-backed. So the Opposition blanked out here as well. If this is counted in the SDF kitty, then the party’s percentage proportion at Zilla level goes up to 96.29%.
At the ward-level, with 13 results withheld, SDF occupies 884 of the 974 wards which works out to 90.75%. This is a slight dip from its 2007 performance when it has secured 815 of the 889 panchayat wards [91.67%] in the State at that time. Interestingly, the figures for Independents at the ward level have been held up by the 42 wards won by Independents in East district making up nearly half the state-level tally of Independents. Across the State, Independents have won 89 wards. Last time, they had won 75 wards.
Interestingly, while some Opposition political parties [CPM, Congress and SGPP] were officially in the panchayat fray in 2007, this time Congress fielded candidates only on two wards and all others stayed away. Politicking however was visibly more frenetic this time, but to no avail. If anything, the Opposition involvement in the run-up led to Independents not only reducing their numbers in the winning pedestal, but also drastically bringing down their conversion rate [calculated on number of seats won against number contested].
The conversion rate for Independents at the Zilla level this year was 7.14% [they won 5 out of 70 seats contested]. This figure was 11.47% in 2007 when they had managed to win 7 seats out of 61 contested. The conversion rate dip at the ward level is similar with Independents posting a 21.86% conversion rate [winning 89 out of 407 contested] this time against the conversion rate of 26.97% they posted in 2007 when they won 75 out of the 278 panchayat wards they contested.

Clerical error forces re-poll recommendation for 13 panchayat wards in East Sikkim

GANGTOK, 05 Nov: A clerical error brought about enough of a storm at the TNA auditorium here where counting of the panchayat poll results was taking place today. A stand-off between district administration officials and a number of Independent candidates which lasted for nearly 2 hours was finally resolved with the DC, East, D Anandan, giving in to the demand for re-polling and results of 13 panchayat wards withheld. Officially, the final call will be with the State Election Commission, but with the Returning Officer [the DC East] making the recommendation, a formal announcement is only a formality now.
Re-polling is being recommended only for 13 panchayat wards of East district and not the entire district which was the initial demand of the agitating independent candidates. The DC who is also the Returning Officer also allowed the ‘opposing’ parties to have 3 ‘observers’ in the counting room to oversee the counting and results declaration process.
As for the “clerical error”, this resulted when the sequence of names on the ‘ballot papers’ issued to candidates and the counting sheets did not match leading to much confusion, including wrong names being announced as winners.
The fracas broke out at around 10 AM today after several results were retracted; several Independent candidates who had initially been told that they had won were later told that they had actually lost the polls in their respective wards.
After explaining the error, the DC clarified that it was not serious enough to warrant a re-poll, but he would still be recommending re-election at the 13 wards for the satisfaction of the candidates. A formal announcement on this will be made by the State Election Commission.
The counting officers including the Returning Officer while explaining that there was no discrepancy in the number of votes, said that the number of votes were only taken down in wrong order [because of th mismatch in sequence].
So while Kumari Chettri, an independent candidate of Lossing ward had been handed over the form with her name in serial number 1 with 175 votes polled and the SDF candidate with 103 votes; this was later reversed with her actually getting only 103 and the SDF candidate 175 votes. Her name had erroneously been recorded in serial number 1, or so was the explanation.
Similarly, Chandra Maya Tamang, an independent candidate of Paiyong ward had been told she had won with 120 votes; however this was later reversed with her actually getting only 68 votes and her rival, the SDF candidate getting 120 votes. There were some independent candidates who had already begun celebrating with khadas etc only to be told later that they had actually lost.
13 results had been declared before the issue was brought to light and counting held up until the re-poll solution was worked out.
Besides the ‘clerical’ error which almost brought down the house the unwarranted entry of Deputy Mayor, Shakti Singh and Officer on Special Duty, OP Bhandari into the counting auditorium without valid passes while the process was underway also came to the notice of the candidates who demanded an explanation. With the TNA complex under heavy security and a strong presence of SAP personnel the Independent candidates got together to condemn the slack attitude of the administration in this regard and they also expressed strong doubts of favoritism towards the ruling front.
The protesting Independents remained insistent that the administration should not have allowed him to enter as he did not have a valid pass. The Independent candidates were unwilling to allow the counting process to continue and in fact alleged that the incident indicated that the ruling front had an influence on the counting process.
Later a delegation comprising of Tseten Lepcha, Anand Lama, Rudra Khatiwada and a few others met with Returning Officer, the SP East and the Election Observor, SK Shilal where the error was explained by the Returning Officer. The Returning Officer took pains to explain the working of the EVMs and how the votes were counted; furthermore he also clarified that in the confusion not only Independents but favourable results of some SDF candidates had also been reversed.
However counting of the votes could only resume after it was decided that all 13 wards, where results had been recorded in the ballot papers would go for re polling.

Returning Officer and Observer confirm lapse

GANGTOK, 05 Nov: The Returning Officer has admitted to the clerical error made by the district officials in East district in the counting process and significantly, the same was also pointed out by the Election Observer. It was also pointed out by the Election Observer that OP Bhandari and Shakti Singh of the SDF entering the counting room at the TNA auditorium without valid passes was unwarranted.
Talking to NOW, Election Observer, SK Shilal stated that while he did not see OP Bhandari or the Deputy Mayor Shakti Singh entering the counting hall, he did see them in the room. He clarified that they should not have been allowed to enter the room and this was clearly a lapse on the part of the concerned officials.
“It was against the norms to have allowed persons without valid passes to enter the counting room,” he stated. SP East also stated that he had asked the agitating candidates to put in a formal complaint against the two gatecrashers if they wanted an enquiry.
The agitating party informed that they would also put up a complaint with the State Election Commission. It is not clear what the two had to do in the counting room.
On the clerical error regarding the serial numbers, the Election Observer, SK Shilal also explained to the delegation of representatives of the independent candidates that he had told the Returning Officer that this was their mistake which should not have occurred. As a result of this 13 panchayat wards will have re-elections.

Independents put up best performance in East district

GANGTOK, 05 Nov: Out of 144 Wards in the East district, the results for which were declared today, the ruling SDF party has won in 102 Wards while 42 of the independent candidates won from their respective Wards. It may be mentioned here that the total number of Wards that went to poll is 157, the results for 13 wards were withheld [see accompanying story for details].
Of the total 290 Panchayat Wards, 133 had been won uncontested by the SDF and polling was held in the rest 157 Wards. For the Zilla Panchayat, out of the total 32 Zilla Panchayat seats, 06 were won uncontested by the ruling party and polling was held in the rest 26 Zillas, where 23 winning candidates were from the SDF party and 03 were won by independent candidates.
The three Independents who won at the Zilla panchayat level today, are: Poloo Sherpa [Lingtam-Phadamchen], Denka Bhutia [Chuchenpheri-Lamaten] and Kamal Gurung [Thekabong-Machong-Samsing].
Laden Lepcha, a victorious independent candidate from Markang Ward under Chuchajen constituency, while speaking to NOW! today thanked the people for the mandate  and said, “It is now my duty to work for the betterment of the people”.
“The main problems in our Ward are that of roads, water and the Ward is still under developed. So, first and foremost there is a need to work on these problems and then take the next step”, he said and added that he would have to ensure that the schemes and benefits meant for the people are properly utilized.
Speaking on whether he would join the SDF party if approached, he stated that if the party wants him to join then he would willingly accept, but added that before taking such a step he would have to confer with the people of his Ward.
“Even though I won as an independent candidate, I will not differentiate between the people who voted for me and the people who voted for the party candidate”, he said and added that he would provide equal opportunities to all in the Ward.
The counting for the Panchayat elections for the East District were held here at the Tashi Namgyal Academy auditorium today.

SDF sweeps North Zillas, Independents secure small toehold at ward level

MANGAN, 05 Nov: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front continued its hold over North Sikkim by securing 19 of the 20 Zilla territorial constituencies in the district and cornering 98 of the 109 panchayat wards here. While a majority of these seats had already been secured uncontested by the ruling party, it further improved on its tally after the votes were counted today. Only one [Phensang under Kabi-Lungstok constituency] of 06 Zilla wards which required elections went to an Independent candidate while SDF and Independents split the 28 panchayat wards which went to poll at 18 and 10 respectively. The performance of Independents at the Zilla level remains unchanged from the last panchayat polls in 2007, but last time, the SDF had fielded no candidate for the Zilla ward which went to an Independent in North Sikkim, incidentally, also at Kabi-Tingda then. At the Panchayat ward level, Independents have improved on their tally from 06 last time to 10 now.
The details are as follows:
In Dzongu constituency, out of 11 Territorial Constituencies and 56 Wards, the election was held for three territorial constituencies and 10 Wards.
Namok-Swayem GPU: Pema Lhamu Lepcha (SDF) 432 and Norzam Bhutia (IND) 274; Mangshila-Tibuk GPU: Dhan Maya Limboo (SDF) 643, Raghu Maya Limboo (IND) 204 and Sun Kumari Limboo (IND) 177; Hee-Gyathang GPU: Angulie Lepcha (SDF) 502 and Lakpa Tshering Lepcha (IND) 238.
Swayem ward: Dawa Pendup Bhutia (SDF) 105 and Tenzing Gyamtso Lepcha (IND) 61; Deythang ward: Passangmit Lepcha (SDF) 70 and Kipu Bhutia (IND) 66 of Namok Swayem GPU.
Ralak ward: Kumar Limboo (SDF) 169 and Bandhana Subba (IND) 81; Lower Zusing ward: Meena Maya Limboo (SDF) 131 and Ganga Maya Limboo (IND) 65 of Mangshila-Tibuk GPU.
Ship ward: Lakden Lepcha (SDF) 82 and Rongmit Lepcha (IND) 24 of Shipgyer GPU; Lower Barfok ward: Lopzang Lepcha (SDF) 69 and Phur Tshering Lepcha (IND) 25 of Barfok-Lingdong GPU.
RangRang ward: Santosh Tamang (IND) 92 and Dawa Tamang (SDF) 58 of Tingchim-Chandey GPU; Sudur Bringbong ward: Tshering Doma Lepcha (SDF) 98 and Norzey Lepcha (IND) 95; Mantyang Tungkyong ward: Kalzang Dorjee Lepcha (IND) 81 and Karma Lepcha (SDF) 79; Sangdong ward: Lhakit Lepcha (SDF) 116 and Pemkit Lepcha  (IND) 02 of  Hee-Gyathang GPU.
Similarly, out of 5 Territorial Constituencies and 30 Wards of Kabi-Lungtsok constituency, the election was held at three GPUs for territorial constituencies and 14 Wards.
Kabi-Tingda GPU: Pema Doma Bhutia (SDF) 569, Passang Lhamu Sherpa (IND) 399 and Yangchen Doma Bhutia (IND) 271; Phensang GPU: Pema Sherap Lepcha (IND) 331, Choden Lepcha (SDF) 285  and Passang Namgyal Lepcha (IND) 126; Men-Rongong GPU: Khimoo Lepcha (SDF) 357 and Phursongmoo Lepcha (IND) 304.
Under the Kabi-Tingda GPU, Tingmoo Ghaikhana ward: Chey Lhamu Sherpa (IND) 257 and Bibi Doma Tamang (SDF) 120; Longbu ward: Tashi Lhendup Bhutia (SDF) 209 and Sonam Tsh Bhutia (IND) 62; Lingchom ward: Tshering Sherpa (SDF) 147, Lhakpa Sherpa (IND) 95.
Under the Phensang GPU, Lower Paney Phensong ward: Norjeela Lepcha (SDF) 67 and Ongmu Lepcha  (IND) 64; Gensoi Phensong ward: Namday Lepcha (IND) 92 and Tshering Zangmu Bhutia (SDF) 52; Safyong ward: Ugen Lhendup Bhutia (SDF) 47 and Tshering Doma Bhutia (IND) 27; Labi ward: Phurkey Lepcha (IND) 43 and Chewang Doma Lepcha (SDF) 33; Sardong ward: Chuzing Lepcha (IND) 65 and Chogay Lepcha  (SDF) 59; Tingshim ward: Doma Lepcha (IND) 45 and Pemkey Lepcha (SDF) 43.
Under Men-Rongong GPU, Rarik ward: Doma Yangzom Lepcha (SDF) 65 and Pem Phutti Lepcha (IND) 39; Lower Chewang ward: Pintso Lepcha  (IND)  73 and Sonam Dathup Lepcha (SDF) 66.
Under Rongong-Tumlong GPU, Lower Rongong ward: Som Bahadur Subba (SDF) 96 and Subash Subba (IND) 94 .
Under Ramthang-Tangyek GPU, Ramthang Khyongu ward: Pem Chukki Bhutia (SDF) 62 and Phurzim Ongmu Bhutia (IND) 45; Ramthang Phyagu ward: Marmit Lepcha (SDF) 49 and Tenzing Doma Lepcha (IND) 40. Tangyek ward: Pema Doma Lepcha (IND) 58 and Phumden Lepcha (SDF) 48; Lungchok Sangam ward: Karma Gyaltsen Lepcha (IND) 49 and Dup Tshering Lepcha (SDF) 47.
In Lachen-Mangan constituency, out of 4 territorial constituencies and 23 wards, the election was held at only two wards. Pakshep ward of Singhik GPU: Nima Dorjee Tamang (SDF) 159 and Pawluse Tamang (IND) 90; Manul ward of Toong-Naga GPU: Laymu Lepcha (IND) 47 and Thinley Chopel Lepcha (IND) 45.
However, the figures show close contest in maximum wards and GPUs in North Sikkim.
The counting process was conducted in the presence of Election Observer North District, CT Wangdi, Panchayat Returning Officer, TW Khangsarpa and other officials here at Zilla Bhawan in Mangan North Sikkim.
The overall voter turn-out for the Panchayat poll in North Sikkim was 87% while the highest votes have been cast at Kabi/Phensong with 98%, turnout.  Likewise, the lowest votes have been cast at Ramthang/Tanek, at both zilla and ward panchayat poll which is 65%.
The Addl. Returning Officer, PW Lepcha today also announced that all the elected and uncontested panchayats have to be present on 09 November for the certificate award ceremony at Community Hall Mangan.

SDF reigns supreme in both Zilla and Ward Panchayats in South as well

NAMCHI, 05 Nov: It was another sweep by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front in the Panchayat election in South Sikkim. And this time, the party even improved further on its panchayat elections 2007 tally. Official SDF candidates won all the zilla seats they contested [14/15] and the lone zilla berth going to an Independent was from a constituency where the ruling party was supporting independents. The party’s command even in the more numerous panchayat wards was also established today with the party candidates winning 80 of the 99 wards where elections were held. As for the 19 wards where Independents won, SDF did not field any candidates in 10 where it backed Independents. The final tally for South Sikkim has SDF holding 27 of the 28 zilla panchayats and 252 of the 271 wards.
Counting of the two tier Panchayat poll started at 8 AM this morning at the Namchi Senior Secondary School auditorium. Supporters of both the independents and SDF came in droves anxious to know the fate of their respective candidates. However, the wave slowly but surely turned towards the ruling Front.
People here in South Sikkim may have expected that after the pre poll violence and tension of the past few weeks, the opposition might post a stronger showing, but all such speculations were brought to nought.
Out of the 15 Zilla Panchayat seats, 14 were swept by the ruling party’s candidates. The lone Independent Zilla candidate who emerged victorious was from Kolthang Mangzing TC reserved for OBC (Women). However the SDF did not have any candidates contesting the poll from this TC and the winning independent candidate was supported by the ruling party.
Out of 99 ward panchayats that went to poll in South district, a major share i.e 80 wards went to SDF while the independent remained victorious in 19 wards. It may be mentioned here that the ruling SDF did not field its candidates in 10 wards and supported independents in the 9 remaining wards which it lost.
It may be also noted that though the general impression was that it was a fight between SDF and the Independents, the SDF managed to overcome the odds and it soon became a fight between independent candidates which may have caused harm to their prospects of winning at some wards in the end. The ruling SDF candidates were unscathed.
The counting was over by 6:30 in the evening successfully except for the Pabong (Ganchung) ward where the independent candidate was declared the winner at first but after a complaint by the SDF candidate, a review found that the EVMs had got exchanged with the Zilla ones and after the correction, the SDF candidate emerged victorious. The DC explained this to both candidates and the explanation was accepted by both.
In some of the ward panchayats, a close fight was seen where the candidates lost with a small margins. The most interesting result was that of Lower Borong where there was a tie of 135 votes each; the deciding votes were the postal ballots with which SDF won by two votes.
Similarly, in Peku ward under Ben Namphrik GPU, the SDF candidate Prem Kala Chettri won the election by 1 vote against the Independent candidate Chandra Kala Chettri. Here also the result was a tie and with the opening of the postal ballots, SDF was declared the winner.
Similarly, Independent candidate from Lower Neya, Ganga Devi defeated the SDF candidate Jyoti Chettri with a close margin of two votes. The Independent got 196 votes while SDF managed to get 194.
SDF supporters greeted their respective leaders and welcomed them with traditional khadas. Gathered in large numbers outside the counting centre, the supporters also shouted pro government and SDF slogans.
While addressing the media personnel at the control room later, DC South informed that besides minor incidents on the evening of the panchayat poll no untoward incidents were reported in the South district. These minor incidents were settled after the intervention of the sector magistrate and sector police officers, he added.
The DC further said that the election went off peacefully and was a successful one. While talking about today’s incident of EVM exchange, DC South also the Returning Officer told media persons that, due to the mistake of the presiding officer, the EVM of Zilla Panchayat poll of the same ward got exchanged with the gram panchayat ward of Pabong (Ganchung) ward under Namphing GPU and the total vote cast was the same in both the EVMs.
At first the counting revealed the Independent candidate Dawa Tshering Tamang as the winner but after the complaint of SDF candidate Immanuel Tamang the mistake of EVM exchange came to light and after recounting, the SDF candidate was declared the winner with 218 votes against 139 votes of the Independent candidate. Similarly, the Zilla poll of the same ward was also corrected accordingly. The mistake was explained to the Independent candidate and after the recounting he was also convinced, said the DC.
The DC further thanked and congratulated the ROs, AROs, Sector Magistrates, SP South and his team, Sector police Officers and police personnel for the successful completion of Panchayat poll in the district. He also thanked the Election Commission and officers for providing guidance and also the candidates and supporters.
According to him, they co-operated well and maintained law and order, especially the ruling party’s candidates and supporters. Congratulating the voters who came out strongly to vote for their respective leaders, the DC informed that the overall voting percentage in South was 79%. He also thanked the media for mature reporting.

Independents fail to open Zilla account in West Sikkim this time as well

GANGTOK, 05 Nov: Independents drew an embarrassing blank at the Zilla level in West district yet again, handing the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front a flawless sweep of the 23 Zilla Territorial Constitutions which required elections and were counted today. With this, SDF candidates now sit in all the 28 Zilla wards of the West district, after having already won 5 of these uncontested. In the panchayat elections of 2007 too independent candidates had not been able to win any of the 8 Zilla constituencies which had been contested that year.
The DC, West, LB Chettri, who is also the Returning Officer for the district, when contacted, further confirmed that of the 136 Panchayat wards which were contested, the SDF won 118 while the Independent candidates bagged a total of 18 Panchayat wards in the district. With this, SDF has secured 299 of the 317 panchayat wards in West Sikkim. In the last panchayat elections in 2007, Independents had won 11 of the 283 wards the district had at the time and the Congress had won One.
The contests were extremely close in some of the Independent wins which went down right to the wire. At Toyang ward for instance, Puran Kumar Darjee, an Independent candidate who bagged 104 votes edged past SDF’s Mangal Singh Kami by a solitary vote. At Baiguney ward, Independent Sita Rai won against Ramala Rai by a solitary vote again with 93 and 92 votes respectively. At Gelling Samsing, SDF’s Babita Sharma found her 96 votes just two short of the 98 votes which posted Independent Bishnu Sharma as the winner.
It was further informed by the DC, West, that the counting process was smooth and without incident. The counting process began at 8 AM and was completed by around 7 PM.

Governor and CM extend Lhabab Duechen greetings

GANGTOK, 05 Nov: On the auspicious occasion of Lhabab Duechen, the Governor of Sikkim Balmiki Prasad Singh extends his warm greetings to the people of Sikkim.
As per an official release, the Governor said, “Lhabab Duechen marks the descent of Lord Buddha to earth, at the behest of his followers, to provide them his teachings. This holy occasion can also be seen as the celebration of universalization of religion.
On this day, I urge the people of Sikkim to remember and follow the virtues of love, compassion, wisdom and harmony preached by the Sakyamuni.”
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his wife Tika Maya Chamling have also extended warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Sikkim on Lhabab Duechen.

GOVERNOR’S GOLD CUP

Bhawanipur FC knocks out Dimapur FC to enter semis
GANGTOK, 05 Nov: Bhawanipur FC, Kolkata has entered the semi-final round of the ongoing 33rd All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament here at Paljor Stadium. In the quarter-final match played today, Bhawanipur FC led by Jose Barreto edged past Dimapur FC 3-1.
From the start of the match, Bhawanipur players maintained constant pressure on Dimapur FC by launching some good attacks and in the 13th minute, Jaganath Sana scored the first lead for Bhawanipur FC. Even as Dimapur tried its best to come back into the game, the first half ended with the score of 1-0 in favour of Bhawanipur FC.
In the second half, Amit Kumar Kundu headed the corner shot into the second goal for Bhawanipur FC in the 55th minute and within 3 minutes his teammate, K Kulothugan followed it up with one more goal in the 58th minute.
The face saver for Dimapur FC came in the form of a suicide goal by Sagram Mandi of Bhawanipur FC, who headed the ball into his own goalpost in the 77th minute. However, with the final whistle Bhawanipur FC entered the semi-final round with this win of 3-1.
Now, BSF Jallandhar will take on Southern Samity, Kolkata in the second quarter-final match tomorrow at 2 PM. The much awaited quarter-final match between Bhaichung’s United Sikkim Football Club and Three Star Nepal will be played on 07 November.  

SSA players lift the U-16 Knockout Floodlight Football Tourney in Siliguri

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 05 Nov: Students of the State Sports Academy [SSA] have proved themselves once again by emerging as the champions of the U-16 Knockout Floodlight Football Tournament 2012 held at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri.
In the final match played last evening, SSA defeated Barasat, Kolkata 1-0 to lift the championship trophy of the tournament. In the final match, Pema Bhutia scored the winning goal for the SSA.
Apart from the champion’s trophy, SSA’s striker Tshering Zangpo Tamang received Man of the Match trophy and also the Man of the Tournament trophy. Tshering Zangpo was also awarded with the High Scorer trophy for his 6 goals in the tournament. Likewise, Nim Tenzing Lepcha of the SSA also received the Best Goalkeeper trophy of the tournament.
Earlier, SSA defeated Bangladesh 4-0 and George Telegraph, Kolkata 2-0 to reach the finals of the tournament. The 18-member SSA team was led by the coach, Amos Subba in the tournament. A total of 18 teams had taken part in the tournament. The SSA team returned home this afternoon.
Speaking to media persons today at Paljor Stadium, Sports Minister, NK Pradhan congratulated SSA players for their outstanding performance and for making the state and its people proud. He further added that this achievement is a matter of pride for the whole state.
“Many people have the impression that the department has not been doing much for sports in the state but such achievements prove the dedication and interest of the department in providing the facilities and showcasing the hidden talents of the state”, said the Minister.
He pointed out that many SSA students are playing for reputed clubs in different parts of the country and expressed hope that many players from this present batch would also get to play for reputed clubs in the coming days. The department has been putting its best efforts in providing the best facilities in the field of football as well as in other sports activities, Mr Pradhan added.
Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary, Karma P Bhutia also congratulated the whole team for this achievement where they have defeated some strong teams in the tournament. He further added that this was a good experience for players to boost them for their upcoming tournaments and other future challenges. The Secretary also congratulated the coach for his efforts.

ALL SIKKIM WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Fambongla XI beat Rabdentse XI by lone goal
GANGTOK, 05 Nov: A solitary goal by Presila Tamang helped Fambongla XI [East Sikkim] to enter the semi-final round of the ongoing All Sikkim Women’s Football Tournament here at Paljor Stadium. In the last quarter-final match today, Fambongla XI defeated Rabdentse XI [West Sikkim] with the lone goal.
Presila scored the lead for Fambongla in the 24th minute.  Rabdentse players tried hard to equalize the score but the first half ended in favour of Fambongla XI.
Despite some good opportunities, both the teams missed the net and the match ended with the same scoreline of 1-0 in favour of Fambongla girls.
In the first semi-final match, Norbugang XI [West] will take on Tendong XI [South] tomorrow at 12 PM.

Chinese national booked for spying, under judicial custody for another 2 months

GANGTOK, 04 Nov: Liangki Jiancen, the 20-year-old Chinese national who had been arrested by the police up at Nathula border on charges of spying has been remanded to judicial custody for a period of 2 months.
He was produced before the courts in Gangtok last week when the order was issued.
Interestingly, unconfirmed reports suggest that the Chinese National refused the option to be deported or pushed back into Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. Although he was found to have been taking photographs of certain infrastructure and locations along the border as he entered Sikkim as part of a border trade group from Tibet the espionage accused, surprisingly, does not seem too keen to return home.
Liangki, a resident of Shigatse, a city in the Tibetan Autonomous Region was intercepted by the Indo Tibetan Border Police, the paramilitary agency manning the border in the Nathula region, after he was caught taking photographs of the restricted area on his mobile phone from his vehicle. The mobile phone was seized and Liangki was charged under the Official Secrets Act.
Initially he was remanded for a period of 15 days but this has now been extended to 2 months. The refusal to be pushed back, as reported, could stem from the unpleasant prospect of being grilled for days on end by Chinese authorities on the other side once he is pushed back into China.
While the court will give its final order later, it is being speculated that the plan of the Chinese national is to be ‘handed over’ to one of the Tibetan Associations in the state for ‘deportation’ via Rangpo and eventually end up in Dharamsala. A couple of months ago, another Tibetan, Karma Gelek who was released from the state prison, also found his way to Dharamsala in the same fashion it is informed.
Liangki’s arrest had created some tension up at the border region with the Chinese authorities demanding his immediate release and trade had actually shut down for a week.

Governing body of State Council of Science & Technology reconstituted

GANGTOK, 04 Nov: The governing body of the Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology has been reconstituted by the State government. The Council is chaired by the Chief Minister with the Minister, Science & Technology as vice chairman. There are 22 other members included in the council.
The Council has also been given a vast array of responsibilities, the primary being identifying areas where science and technology can be utilized for the socio economic advancement of the state. In particular this is to be aimed at tackling problems afflicting the backward and under-privileged sections. The larger objective of the use of science and technology would be poverty alleviation and reduction of regional imbalances.
The council will advise on ways to achieve the Socio-Economic objectives in this regard in various fields including agriculture, animal husbandry, horticulture, health etc and also in infrastructure development. Priority areas for long term development of the state will be chalked out ensuring proper application of science and technology. In fact this is also to be utilized in resolving problems encountered in plan implementation through the assignment of pilot projects.
An important function of the Council is the promotion of technologies and initiating scientific attitude and temperament amongst the people of the state. In addition this is also to supplement the achievement of the on-going technical projects/efforts of the State Government.
There will be registration of voluntary agencies, education research and development institutions, non-governmental organization and individuals involved in work related to
Science & Technology for the purpose of development of the state. A fund will be maintained into which shall be credited all funds provided to the Council by the Central Government or the State Government.
The council will be supported by the department of Science and Technology especially in the design, development and demonstration of relevant specific projects, surveys etc.
The council includes the Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner and Secretaries Finance, Food Security, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Agriculture, Irrigation, Forests, PHE, RMDD, Health. Besides there are also representatives of the central agencies including Planning Commission, department of Space, Department of Science and Technology, Bio Technology, AICTE, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Non Conventional Energy, GSI and Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

Voter turn-out in West Sikkim

Statement of voters turns out in West District i General Panchayat Election 2012

Sl. No		Male turnout	Female turnout	Total voter turnout	Total No. of Electors	Percentage of voting
1	Zilla Panchayat(TC)	29199	25466	54665	72199	75.71%
2	Gram Panchayat Ward	15946	14016	29962	37487	79.9%
3	Total for West District	30022	26097	56119	74041	75.79%

The above total voter turnout do not include Poster Ballot vote.

Sada ward records 96% voter turn-out, highest in South

NAMCHI, 04 Nov: In the South Sikkim panchayat poll, the highest voter turn-out of 96% was recorded in Sada ward under Borong-Phamtam GPU. Out of 102 voters 98 turned up to cast their vote in the Phamtam JHS polling station.
Similarly the Denchung ward under 21 Poklok Chisopani with the polling station at Nandugaon Secondary School recorded 93% voter turn-out for Zilla Panchayat poll. The total number of voters were 333 out of which 310 voters cast their vote and the male to female voter ratio was 186:147.
In the “hyper sensitive” polling station at Namthang Sr Sec School, 78% of voters i.e 252 out of the total 325 cast their vote. The other “hyper sensitive” stations at Upper Suntaley and Lower Suntaley under 22 Sadam Suntaley GPU recorded voter turn-out of 85% [85% male and female]and 90% [89% male 91% female]respectively. At Upper Suntaley 365 of the total 428 voters cast their vote while at Lower Suntaley 388 of the total 432 voters turned up.
Neyabrum Sec School, the polling station for Lower Neya ward under 4 Neya Mangzing GPU saw a voter turn-out of 88% [87% male and 89% female]. Yangyang [Gumpa] ward under 6 Yangang Rangrang GPU recorded 78% [80% male 76% female] voter turn out at its Upper Yangang JHS polling station.
The Upper Maneydara ward under 16 Namthang Maneydara GPU recorded 78% [76% male 79% female] voter turn-out at its Namthang Sr Sec School polling station.
The sealed EVMs have been kept in the strong room under tight security at the Namchi Senior Secondary School’s auditorium hall. No post poll violence has been reported in the district.
However, security has been tightened in the South district ahead of the counting that will take place on 05 November.

Kabi-Phensong records highest voter turn-out in North

MANGAN, 04 Nov: Panchayat polls in North Sikkim yesterday saw an overall voter turn-out of 87%. In the district which outperformed all others in voter turnout, the highest number of votes were cast at Kabi-Phensong which recorded 98% turnout while the lowest percentage of votes in were cast at Ramthang-Tanek, both in zilla and ward panchayat polls.
Polling was conducted peacefully and the EVMs were taken to the Zilla Panchayat Bhawan, Mangan which were received by Addl. Returning officers in the presence of Panchayat Returning officer, TW Khangserpa.

USFC holds Pailan Arrows to a draw

BHAICHUNG BAGS RED CARD ON I-LEAGUE DEBUT, APOLOGISES TO FANS AND TEAM
GANGTOK, 04 Nov: Home club United Sikkim Football Club could not register a win today but managed to add another point to their aggregate. In its fourth home match, USFC held Pailan Arrows to a goalless draw and now has 4 points from its four home matches in this I-League season.
The match played at Paljor Stadium today also saw USFC co-owner, Bhaichung Bhutia joining his team on field towards the end of the match.
As for the match, while Pailan Arrows strikers launched some good attacks in the early minutes of the match the home club responded with equal vigour.
In the closely played match, former India skipper Bhaichung also stepped onto the field in the last 15 minutes replacing Rahul Jaiswal of USFC. However, the scoreboard remained blank and instead Bhaichung earned a red card in the 84th minute for a foul and got sent off the field. Earlier, he had received a yellow card in the 77th minute followed by another yellow card.
With a man down, the 10-member USFC team fought hard in the last minutes of the match to keep Pailan Arrows from scoring.
Speaking to media persons after the match, Bhaichung expressed his apologies to all fans and his teammates for receiving the red card in the match. “I am sorry to all fans and my teammates about this. It will not happen again”, said Bhaichung.
He went on to add that 1 point was better than not having any and that 4 points in four matches was good but the team still needs to perform better in other matches in the league.
USFC coach, Phillipe De Ridder said that the home team played a decent game to secure 1 point.
Speaking on the four home matches, he said, “I would have been happier with 7 points from these four home matches but 4 points is good enough”.
On local players Ashish Chettri and Nima Tamang, who played in the first eleven in today’s match, he said that Nima did a decent job in his first match and with more experience in the coming matches he could do better. About Ashish, he said that he is still recovering from injuries and after full recovery he can do better. However, Linekar and Mun Mun have been performing consistently well, said the coach.
On playing away matches, the coach stated that the team is all set as being a professional club, the team has to play in all types of environment and climatic conditions.
Meanwhile, the Pailan Arrows coach, Arthur Papas also expressed satisfaction over his team’s performance stating that the team had around 80% ball possession in the match.
Responding to media queries, the coach stated that maintaining the unbeaten record was not important but improving with every match was more important for the team.
Also in the match today, Swar Sikkim felicitated Bhaichung Bhutia for his contribution towards the game of football during half-time.

Mangan bazaar area receives LPG refills

MANGAN, 04 Nov: The STCS distributed 204 LPG cylinders at Mangan bazaar in North district today. The distribution process was carried out under SI Karma Euden Kaleon of Mangan Police Station and police staff. Several LPG passbook holders registered with LPG distributors other than STCS were turned away though and directed to get their passbooks transferred to STCS as soon as possible to get refilled cylinders.
The next distribution process will be carried out at Pentok, it is informed. People were informed that consumers of the Pentok area should not try to get refilled LPG cylinders from the lot distributed in Mangan bazaar while the bazaar consumers should also not run to Pentok for the cylinders.
This would ensure that demands of all consumers are duly fulfilled at their respective areas without any trouble.
Meanwhile, the Mangan branch of Sikkim Bihari Jagaran Manch (SBJM) along with other businessmen thanked area MLA, TW Lepcha for the provision of LPG cylinders for the area as per their request placed a few days back. They added that they expect timely provision of cylinders on the scheduled time in the future as well.

THANK YOU, BHAICHUNG!

United Sikkim Football Club CEO and former India football team skipper, Bhaichung Bhutia was felicitated by Swar Sikkim today during the half-time of the I-League match between his club and Pailan Arrows at Paljor Stadium. Bhaichung was felicitated for his selfless service and contributions towards promoting football in the state and the nation.  Swar Sikkim chief patron, former Minister DD Bhutia presented Bhaichung with a shawl, khada and a citation and also Rs. 1,00,100 for USFC through Bhaichung as support for the platform provided for local footballers.

Editorial: For Empowerment, Women Had to Vote More As Well

At least half of the panchayats in Sikkim will now be women, a substantial leap from the 33% reservation set aside for them in Panchayat elections 2007. Within the term of the incumbent panchayats, the State government increased the reservation to 40% and before the polls, scaled it still higher to the present 50%. When it comes to proportional representation in participatory democracy, this figure is close to what should come to women since they constitute 48 per cent of the electorate. Centuries of denial and generations of sidelining ensured that even when they could, the women did not step out and take their rightful share of decision-making processes. Reservations are not always the solution, but the 50% reservation that women now enjoy in Sikkim at the panchayat level is a welcome course correction, and if allowed to join forces and effect policy implementation without interference, the new crop of rural level representatives could unveil a new facet of rural empowerment.
The reason why the 50% reservation is special can be best appreciated if put in the right perspective. In the Sikkim context, in the eight Assembly elections that the State has seen, women have secured only a sliver of the elected representation. The present Legislative Assembly with four lady MLAs, accommodates their highest numbers ever in a single term. The story of the nation is no better. Even though ladies head five of the more influential political parties in an extensively fractured national political space at present, their presence as people’s representatives is still personality driven and not representative of their share of the population; not even remotely. In the 60 years of Independent India, women’s representation in the Parliament has hobbled along from 4.4% to 9.02%. The average for women’s representation for countries with elected legislatures is 15%. We have a long way to go and it was only in the present Lok Sabha that the Leader of the Opposition post was secured by a woman in Sushma Swaraj. Going by our past performance, another 50 to 60 years before we can increase women’s representation by the 6% that we are still short of the international average; but by then, the international average too would have climbed.
Is reservation the answer? Of course not, because quotas are a flawed model; more effective in constricting ambitions than ensuring equal opportunity. The typical Indian male chauvinism will toss only token sops and not nurture political ambition if it can suppress or distract the expression of a half of the electorate. Till the decision making process is controlled by them, the larger debate in the public domain will be over political reservation for women. Even this debate will be stretched out, diverted, digressed and diluted and granted only when the fear of women wizening up to their actual strength looms real. To push an interpretation into the data, the 5% increase in women’s representation in Parliament in the last 60 years has not necessarily happened because political parties became more conscious, but because women’s participation in the voting process increased. In the 1962 Parliamentary elections for example, only 46.6% female voters made their way to the booths. By 1998, 57.86% of them were voting. With more of them deciding to exercise their franchise, it only followed that parties were forced to award more tickets to women as well. Fact remains that increased participation is the best way for women to wrestle the representation they deserve. Stay away from the polling stations and the nation will continue to live with the incongruity displayed in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Puducherry. These six, are states where women voters actually outnumber the male voters, but their voting habits are poor, leading to a situation where their representation pales in comparison to even States that one traditionally sees as women-repressive. Sikkim throws up a more respectable data. What cannot be denied is that women’s empowerment has been more effective here under the present Government and this reflects in their participation in the elections. Where female voter turnout in parliamentary elections hovered in the low fifties till 1991, it jumped to 74% in the 1996 general elections itself. The record till then was the 68% turnout of women voters recorded in 1989, the only time when a lady, Dil Kumari Bhandari, was contesting for the Lok Sabha. No prizes for guessing who the ladies of Sikkim voted in strength for that year. Even in 2004, when voters in four assembly constituencies were required to vote only for the Lok Sabha [and thus has little reason to brave the monsoons and vote], 76% women made it to the polling stations. A series of women-centric policy decisions perhaps inspired more women to come out and vote to sustain a process that had started. And the 2009 Assembly elections showed the result – women voters in Sikkim outperformed the men. Against 81.46% male voter turnout in Election 2009, Sikkim’s women posted an 82.77% turnout, a national record! At least the ruling party appears to have recognised their strength.
A disconnect is however too obvious in the Opposition parties and at the organisational level of political outfits not only in Sikkim, but across the country. It would have been healthier if the presence of women was more noticeable across all parties, not only as candidates, but also as important office bearers. That has not happened yet...

CENTURION CITIZEN

101-year-old Bhawani Shankar Adhikari of Tarpin, Rhenock, popularly known as ‘Khalatarey Bajey’, casts his vote at Tarpin Secondary School polling station. “I am aware of my rights and have come here to cast my vote in order to fulfill my duty,” he said.  He was assisted to the polling booth and although slightly hard of hearing, was engagingly coherent and made some interesting quips about panchayati raj and the candidates. 

It’s 80% average for East Sikkim as well

One of the polling booths at Rhenock, East Sikkim

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: East district kept pace with the rest of the State and posted a handsome voter participation close to 80% for the panchayat polls held here today. As per statistics released by the IPR Department, the Zilla panchayat elections attracted a 78.15% voter turnout while the gram panchayat ward elections received a slightly higher voter participation of 81.62%.
Out of the 32 Zilla panchayat territorial constituencies in the district, 6 were bagged by the SDF uncontested and 26 went to poll today. Meanwhile, of the 290 ward panchayats in East district, 157 saw elections today after SDF had secured 133 uncontested.
There are as many as 214 Independents in the fray for the 157 panchayat ward seats, 35 of which had a three-way contest. The 26 Zilla seats which went to poll today attracted the participation of 48 Independents against SDF candidates.

South posts 81% voter turnout

NAMCHI, 03 Nov: With 104 [15 Zilla and 99 panchayat wards] of the 299 panchayat berths [28 Zilla and 271 panchayat] wards going to polls today, South Sikkim registered an 81% voter turnout for the two tier panchayats today.

Namthang, South Sikkim

As per the information received from the Control Room, South district, a total of 78% voters cast their votes for the Zilla Territorial Constituencies elections. Of this overall figure, male voter turnout was 80% while the participation of female voters was 77%.
Meanwhile, for the Ward Panchayat elections, the overall turnout was registered here at 82%, of which ml voter turnout was 83% and 81% of the registered female voters in wards which saw elections exercised their franchise.
With this, the fate of 39 candidates contesting for the 15 Zilla Panchayat seats and 232 candidates contesting the 99 ward Panchayats have been sealed in EVMs for South District stored in the strongroom here at the Namchi Senior Secondary School auditorium ground floor.
Despite the pre-poll violence seen in the district, the polling concluded peaceful today. South district had four hyper-sensitive polling stations at Namthang (under Namthang-Rateypani Constituency), Yangyang and Neyabrum (under Rangang-Yangyang Constituency) and Suntaley (under Melli Constituency) and 19 other polling stations marked as sensitive. No untoward incident was reported from any of these or any other part of the district.

North posts 87% voter turn-out

TWO EVMS REPLACED DUE TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
MANGAN, 03 Nov: 87% percent of voters turned out for the Panchayat polls in three constituencies of North Sikkim today which was completed peacefully.  There were a total of 45 polling stations in North Sikkim for the panchayat election.
In Dzongu constituency, out of 11 Territorial Constituencies and 56 Wards, with most having already been bagged by the SDF uncontested, election was held for three territorial constituencies - Namok-Swayem, Mangshila-Tibuk and Hee-Gyathang GPU.  Likewise, the election for wards was held at Swayem, Deythang of Namok Swayem GPU, Ralak, Lower Zusing of Mangshila-Tibuk GPU, Ship ward of Shipgyer GPU, Lower Barfok ward of Barfok-Lingdong GPU, RangRangward of Tingchim-Chandey GPU and Sudur Bringbong, Mantyang Tungkyong and Sangdong wards of Hee-Gyathang GPU.
Similarly, out of 5 Territorial Constituencies and 30 Wards of Kabi-Lungtsok constituency, the election was held at three GPUs for territorial constituencies such as Kabi-Tingda, Phensang and Men-Rongong GPUs.  Likewise, the election for  wards were held at Tingmoo Ghaikhana, Longbu, Lingchom wards of Kabi-Tingda GPUs, Lower Paney Phensong, Gensoi Phensong, Safyong, Labi, Sardong, and Tingshim wards of Phensang GPU,  Rarik and Lower Chewang wards from Men-Rongong GPU, Lower Rongong ward from Rongong-Tumlong GPU and Ramthang Khyongu and Ramthang Phyagu wards of Ramthang-Tangyek GPU.
In Lachen-Mangan constituency, out of 4 territorial constituencies and 23 wards, the election was held at only two wards which are Pakshep ward of Singhik GPU and Manul ward of Toong-Naga GPU.
Two EVMs were replaced due to some technical problems at two polling stations which were 3/Mantyang Tungkyong ward of Hee-Gyathang GPU and 2/ Rongpa ward of Kabi-Tingda GPU Polling Station.  However, no problem was faced as such since the EVMs were replaced in time, informed SDM Mangan, PW Lepcha while speaking to NOW! The EVMs have been sealed and kept at the Zilla Bhavan.

West polling strong and peaceful

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: West Sikkim too was heading towards the 80%+ voter turnout as per details shared by the DC [West] LB Chettri late this evening. The official tally for the district appeared set to come only very late in the night since only does West district have the most number of panchayat constituents, it is also the one where, given the road conditions, the polling officers will take the longest to report back to headquarters.
Till close to 10 in the night, the process of submission of EVMs to the district control room was still underway. From the figures posted by data recorded till the time of going to print, West Sikkim is likely to record between 75 to 80% polling.
The district had 275 polling stations for the 23 Zilla panchayats [out of 28] and 136 panchayat wards [out of 317] which required polling after the rest were secured by the ruling party uncontested.
The 23 Zilla panchayats had 31 Independents pitched against SDF candidates in the district, with 6 seats with 3 or more candidates in the race. For the 136 panchayat wards which went to poll today, there were 151 Independents in the fray.
The DC [West] also informs that defective EVMs were replaced at four polling stations - Malbasey, Budang, Upper Martam and Sadhugaon. Save some minor incidents, the polling was peaceful in West district as well.

DSP commits suicide

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: A serving Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Sikkim Police committed suicide this morning. According to reports the DSP committed suicide at his residence in Gangtok. His body was reportedly found in his bedroom by family members.

Four suicides

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: Sikkim continues to keep up with its record on suicides. 01 November saw 4 suicides being reported from across the state.
In Singtam a 50-year-old man committed suicide on the morning of 01 November at around 9:15 AM. His body was found hanging at Tumin jungle.
In Pakyong, the suicide of a 64 year old man was registered. A resident of Biring Kerabari basti, his body was also found hanging from the branch of a tree on the morning of 01 November.
One suicide was reported from Nayabazaar where a 35 year old resident of Suntaley Mangalbaria committed suicide by hanging. His body was found hanging from a tree at Suntaley. He is reported to have committed suicide in the intervening night of 30- 31 October.
In Jorethang, a resident of Upper Dorop reportedly committed suicide on 31 October. His body was found hanging in the bathroom of his house.

Woman booked under SADA for third time

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: Meena Sherpa was once again arrested by the Singtam police on charges of possession of contraband possession, namely drugs. The woman has already served two jail terms for the same offence and probably is a living example of the motif, ‘old habits die hard’.
On 01 November she was again arrested by the police and found in possession of 134 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon; these were recovered after a raid was conducted in her house by the police. She has been booked under the SAD Act.
The woman had earlier been arrested in July 2007 and then again in March 2010.

Bhaichung likely to join team in Sunday match

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: United Sikkim Football Club [USFC] CEO, Bhaichung Bhutia might just join his team on the field in the fourth home match of the club at Paljor Stadium on Sunday against Pailan Arrows.
Addressing a press conference today, Bhaichung said, “Although I am feeling better now and am also attending training sessions everyday with the team but I am still not fully fit. I will be in the list of 18 players for the match but it all depends on the coach and the match situation”.
This would be his first time playing for his club in senior division I-League, if it does happen, he mentioned.
Highlighting that USFC should have collected more points than what it has Bhaichung stated that tomorrow’s match, therefore, is an important one and the club hope to bag some more points.
 “Pailan Arrows is a junior India team and is undefeated so far. Although a tough task, USFC could be the first team to defeat them”, said Bhaichung.
Responding to media queries, the former Indian skipper said that although the team’s performance has been impressive so far in the league, some more points would have made him happier as the team needs to gather as many points as possible to survive in the I-League.
On the absence of USFC’s defender, Sandesh in tomorrow’s match, who received a red card in the last match, Bhaichung said that his absence in the next two matches is a big loss for the whole team. However, he added that other good players have been brought in his place.
“After this match, USFC will be playing some difficult away matches outside the state and the team will be leaving on 06 November to Kolkata and then to Goa and Pune and will be back home by 29 November”, he further informed.
Sunday’s match will also be telecast live by Ten Action. On the same, he expressed that going live on national television for 2 hours is a big thing for football in Sikkim.

Undefeated Pailan Arrows hopes to continue winning

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: Undefeated so far, Pailan Arrows hopes to keep it that way when it goes against home club United Sikkim Football Club tomorrow in the I-League match at Paljor Stadium.
So far in this season of the I-League, Pailan Arrows defeated Mumbai FC 3-2, Air India 2-1 and held Salgaocar SC to a goalless draw.
Addressing a pre-match press conference at Paljor Stadium today, the Coach, Arthur Papas said that tomorrow’s match against the USFC will be a tough one with the home club having played against three strong clubs. “We have a very young squad of around 21 years and below and we are looking forward to maintaining the club’s good performance”, said Mr Papas.
“Although we have no knowledge of USFC’s game, the team is quite confident and prepared to give a good fight”, he said and added USFC has been performing well in the I-League so far so it would be a tough game tomorrow.
Likewise, team captain, Shouvik Ghosh expressed that the team will be playing for the first time in Sikkim and despite having travelled a lot during the I-League, the team is looking forward to a good match tomorrow. “Whether we win or lose we will play our best”, said Shouvik.

Pailan Arrows ‘tough and tricky’ but we are confident: USFC coach

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: United Sikkim Football Club [USFC] will take on Pailan Arrows in its fourth home match in the I-League 2012-13 at Paljor Stadium on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference today at Paljor Stadium, USFC coach, Phillipe De Ridder expressed confidence that the team will score some points in its fourth home match against Pailan Arrows. “The team is confident and positive about getting better results in tomorrow’s match”, said Mr Ridder.
Mentioning that Pailan Arrows is a “tough and tricky” opponent, he further added that Pailan Arrows is an organized team and the home team will try its best to balance it. In the absence of its defender, Sandesh Jhingan, the team has to check its defence line and another good player, Safar Sardar was likely to replace Sandesh in tomorrow’s match, he informed. Depending on the team’s performance, there are chances that Bhaichung might play in tomorrow’s match, he added.
The team has been doing well in the league, registering a win in its first match against Salgaocar SC and then going down fighting to East Bengal FC and Dempo SC despite a fantastic game, the coach expressed.
Team captain, Anwar Ali said that after playing against big clubs in the last three matches, USFC is looking forward to doing better tomorrow. “We want to take advantage of this home match before going for the four away matches”, he added.

It’s Independents vs SDF today

Ruling Front’s only contest for 420 panchayat wards comes from 535 Independents
GANGTOK, 02 Nov: Panchayat elections 2012 will be held Saturday and despite the Sikkim Democratic Front having swept more than half the panchayat wards uncontested the remaining seats may still witness some fight. There are a total of 535 independent candidates in the electoral fray all over the state, which is by far the highest number of independent candidates the state has seen in panchayat elections thus far.
These are only the independent candidate figures minus the SDF candidates who altogether will be contesting the 420 panchayat wards going to poll in the state. The rest - 566 wards - have already gone to SDF uncontested.
There are a good many panchayat wards which have a three-way contest; a total of 66 panchayat wards all over the state which will witness a 3 way contest or even higher. There are some wards with as many as 5 candidates contesting the polls at the ward level.
There are also a handful of wards where the SDF has not fielded a candidate. There are as many as 14 panchayat wards in the state where the SDF has not put up a candidate.
The East district has the most number of independent candidates contesting the panchayat elections. As many as 214 independent candidates in the district are contesting the 137 wards.
The total number of panchayat wards in East district is 290. Out of the 137 wards which will see a contest, there are 35 wards which have a three way contest; this includes 7 wards which have a 4 way contest.
This is also the only district which has a Congress candidate contesting a ward seat - in Rumtek. Interestingly there are 5 wards in the district where the SDF does not have an official candidate.
South has a total of 141 Independent candidates for the 99 wards going to poll. 133 wards in the district have already been bagged by SDF party. Of the 99 wards there are as many as 25 wards which have 3 or more candidates contesting and this includes 2 wards which have a 4 way contest and another 2 wards with a 5 way contest. There are also 7 panchayat wards in the district where the SDF has not put up a candidate for the polls.
In West, the total number of independent candidates is 151 who will contest for the 136 seats which are going to polls tomorrow. Out of a total of 317 panchayat seats the SDF has already won 181 seats uncontested. There are 6 panchayat wards which have 3 or more candidates and there are at least 3 wards where the SDF has no candidate.
North district has only 29 independents in the poll for the 28 seats which are being contested. Of the total 111 wards the SDF has got 80 uncontested. Of these 28 seats there is one ward without an SDF candidate; this is ward Manul under Toong Naga gram panchayat unit.