Gangtok, April 9 The ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and its ally BJP launched a joint campaign on Thursday for the upcoming local body elections in the Himalayan state.
Elections have been announced for all 63 wards in nine local bodies in Sikkim, including 21 under the Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC), and the remaining 42 spread across eight other civic bodies – Singtam, Pakyong, Rangpo, Gyalshing, Namchi, Jorethan, Soreng and Mangan – on April 24.
However, except for ward number 10 (Diesel Power House ward) of GMC, all the remaining 62 wards have been won unopposed, and certificates have been awarded to the winning candidates. The SKM won 58 seats, while the BJP won four. The opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and the Citizen Action Party Sikkim (CAPS) boycotted the elections, questioning the reservation criteria for the polls.
The contest in the DPH ward is between BJP's Srijana Chettri and independent nominee Bindhya Cintury.
The ruling alliance opened a dedicated campaign office in the DPH ward in support of Chettri.
With the launch of the joint campaign for Chettri, both parties have announced that a coordinated door-to-door campaign will now be executed across the ward. The campaign will be carried out with a clear vision of achieving sustainable development, ensuring public welfare, and transforming ward number 10 into a model ward, a statement said.
SKM candidate Abhishek Sharma, who withdrew his nomination to make way for Chettri, was felicitated for his understanding and honouring the alliance, it said.
Leaders of both BJP and SKM expressed strong confidence that the unified efforts of the alliance will bring tangible progress and address the aspirations of the people of DPH ward, it added.
The Namchi Municipal Council has seven wards, while Singtam, Pakyong, Rangpo, Gyalshing, Jorethang, Soreng and Mangan nagar panchayats have five wards each.