Mounting green turbulence in politically tranquil Sikkim

CM Prem Singh Tamang leads a state without Opposition in the Assembly, but faces dual challenges of ecological crises and sustainable development, writes ADITI PHADNIS

- ADITI PHADNIS

After winning both Assembly by-elections uncontested in October, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, known as 'Golay', retains the distinction of leading the only state in India with no Opposition in the Assembly. However, politics is the least of his concerns.

In the Assembly elections held in May (alongside the Lok Sabha polls), Golay's Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) won 31 of the 32 seats. In July, the sole Opposition MLA from the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, crossed over to the SKM.

Golay and his wife, Krishna Kumari Rai, had each contested two seats in May. They vacated one seat each, necessitating the bypolls. Golay contested and won the Soreng-Chakung seat, while his wife secured the Namchi-Singhithang constituency. Golay fielded his son, Aditya (from his first wife, Sharda), from the Soreng seat, while the SKM's candidate for Namchi-Singhithang was Satish Chandra Rai. Other parties, including the SDF and smaller parties, pulled out from the race.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had plans to contest the bypolls. However, D R Thapa, president of the BJP's Sikkim unit, told media: "We have received instructions from the BJP head office in New Delhi not to participate in the bypolls but to concentrate on the ongoing membership drive and strengthening our organisational base."

The votes Golay polled in the two constituencies he contested added up to around 21,000. The BJP's total votes across the 31 seats it fought from stood at 19,500.

So, it's not politics that keeps him awake at night. His biggest challenge is anticipating and managing the forces of nature.