2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election


The election was held on 12 April 2014 for 7th assembly of Sikkim, the northeastern state of India. It elected 32 members of Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

Background

Pawan Chamling led SDF had already formed the previous four governments in Sikkim having first formed the government after the 1994 election, when they won 19 seats within a year of the party being formed, and then again after the 1999 election, when they increased their tally to 24 seats. Chamling's third term began on 21 May 2004 after increasing his telly to 31.
In the 2009 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, the SDF had a clean-sweep winning all 32 seats in the state assembly and Chamling sworn in as a Chief Minister fourth times on 20 May 2009. SDF is contesting for the fifth consecutive term.

Campaign and issues

The Buddhist minority demanded Karmapa to contest from Rumtek monastery. Nepali community in Sikkim demanded tribal status.
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha was formed by Prem Singh Tamang in February 2013. Prem Singh Tamang alias P S Golay left Chamling's SDF in September 2014 and joined SKM. SKM contested from all 32 seats.

Schedule of election

Polling

There were 370,731eligible voters including 1,79,650 female voters. 538 polling stations were set up by election commission which were guarded by 3500 policemens and 15 companies of West Bengal Police. There are two seats reserved for scheduled castes, 12 for Bhutia and Lepcha communities out of 32 seats. One Sangha seat is reserved for 2900 monks of over 100 monasteries.
SKM leader Golay contested from Namthang-Rateypani seat against incumbent SDF minister Tilu Gurung.
SDF leader and incumbent chief minister Chamling contested from two places, Namchi-Singhithang and Rangang-Yangang.

Voter turnout

Total 80.97% of electorate including 80.57% males and 81.40% females cast their vote.
Voter turnout at each constituency was as below:
No.ConstituencyVoter turnout %
1Yoksam- Tashiding 84.66
2Yangthang82.18
3Maneybong Dentam83.59
4Gyalshing Barnyak82.19
5Rinchenpong84.73
6Daramdin82.34
7Soreng Chakung83.52
8Salghari Zoom 82.61
9Barfung 83.37
10Poklok Kamrang84.16
11Namchi Singhithang76.87
12Melli82.16
13Namthang Rateypani81.64
14Temi Namphing81.33
15Rangang Yangang82.53
16Tumin Lingee 82.66
17Khamdong Singtam82.32
18West Pendam 81.15
19Rhenok82.02
20Chujachen80.44
21Gnathang Machong 81.40
22Namchwybong82.42
23Shyari 78.14
24Martam Rumtek 80.23
25Upper Tadong73.54
26Arithang71.14
27Gangtok 65.94
28Upper Burtuk78.77
29Kabi Lungchuk 80.37
30Djongu 86.49
31Lachen Mangan 82.72
32Sangha74.62
Total80.97

Parties and candidates

Result

Votes were counted and results were declared on 16 May 2014. SDF lost 10 seats to SKM resulting in formation of opposition in the assembly which did not exist in previous assembly.
Summary:
The candidates elected to seventh legislative assembly are listed below:
No.ConstituencyMemberParty
1Yoksam–Tashiding Sonam Dadul BhutiaSDF
2YangthangChandra Maya Limbu SDF
3Maneybong DentamNarendra Kumar SubbaSDF
4Gyalshing BarnyakSher Bahadur SubediSDF
5RinchenpongKarma Sonam LepchaSDF
6DaramdinDanorbu SherpaSDF
7Soreng ChakungRam Bahadur Limbu SDF
8Salghari Zoom Arjun Kumar GhataniSDF
9Barfung Dorjee Dazom BhutiaSDF
10Poklok KamrangKedar Nath RaiSDF
11Namchi SinghithangPawan Kumar ChamlingSDF
12MelliTulshi Devi RaiSDF
13Namthang RateypaniTilu GurungSDF
14Temi NamphingGarjaman GurungSDF
15Rangang YangangPawan Kumar ChamlingSDF
16Tumin Lingee Ugyen Tshering Gyatso BhutiaSDF
17Khamdong SingtamSom Nath PoudyalSDF
18West Pendam Gopal BarailySKM
19RhenockHemendra AdhikariSKM
20ChujachenBikram PradhanSDF
21Gnathang Machong Dorjee Tshering LepchaSDF
22NamchwybongBek Bahadur RaiSDF
23Shyari Kunga Nima LepchaSKM
24Martam Rumtek Mechung BhutiaSKM
25Upper TadongTimothy William BasnettSKM
26ArithangShyam PradhanSKM
27Gangtok Pintso ChopelSKM
28Upper BurtukPrem Singh TamangSKM
29Kabi Lungchuk Ugyen Nedup BhutiaSKM
30Djongu Sonam Gyatso LepchaSDF
31Lachen Mangan Tshering Wangdi LepchaSDF
32SanghaSonam LamaSKM

Government formation

SDF led by Chamling secured majority by winning 22 out of 32 seats. SKM won the rest ten seats.
Pawan Kumar Chamling was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim for the fifth time on 21 May 2014 by Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil, the Governor of Sikkim. He became the chief minister fifth time, a record previously held by Jyoti Basu who ruled West Bengal from 1977 to 2000.