2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election

2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election
	12 April 2014
All 32 seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly; 17 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	80.97% 2.91%[1]
	Constituencies of Sikkim
Chief Minister before election; Pawan Chamling; SDF	Elected Chief Minister ; Pawan Chamling; SDF

The election was held on 12 April 2014 for 9th assembly of Sikkim, the northeastern state of India. It elected 32 members of Sikkim Legislative Assembly.[3][4]

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,[5] and then again after the 1999 election, when they increased their tally to 24 seats.[6] Chamling's third term began on 21 May 2004 after increasing his tally to 31.[7][8] 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.[9]

Campaign and issues

The Buddhist minority demanded Karmapa to contest from Rumtek monastery. Nepali community in Sikkim demanded tribal status.[9]

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) 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.[9][10]

Schedule of election

Poll Event	Dates
Announcement & Issue of Press Note	5 March 2014
Issue of Notification	19 March 2014
Last Date for filing Nominations	26 March 2014
Scrutiny of Nominations	27 March 2014
Last date for withdrawal of Candidature	29 March 2014
Date of Poll	12 April 2014
Counting of Votes on	16 May 2014
Date before which election shall be completed	20 May 2014
Constituencies Polling on this day	32
Source: Election Commission of India[3]

Polling

There were 370,731 eligible voters including 179,650 female voters. 538 polling stations were set up by election commission which were guarded by 3500 policemen and 15 companies of the West Bengal Police. There are two seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), 12 for Bhutia-Lepcha (BL) communities out of 32 seats. One seat (Sangha) is reserved for 2900 monks of over 100 monasteries.[9]

SKM leader Golay contested from Namthang-Rateypani seat against incumbent SDF minister Tilu Gurung.[9]

SDF leader and incumbent chief minister Chamling contested from two places, Namchi-Singhithang and Rangang-Yangang.[9]

Voter turnout

Total 80.97% of electorate including 80.57% males and 81.40% females cast their vote.[1]

Voter turnout at each constituency was as below:[1]

No.	Constituency	Voter turnout %
1	Yoksam- Tashiding (BL)	84.66
2	Yangthang	82.18
3	Maneybong Dentam	83.59
4	Gyalshing Barnyak	82.19
5	Rinchenpong	84.73
6	Daramdin	82.34
7	Soreng Chakung	83.52
8	Salghari Zoom (SC)	82.61
9	Barfung (BL)	83.37
10	Poklok Kamrang	84.16
11	Namchi Singhithang	76.87
12	Melli	82.16
13	Namthang Rateypani	81.64
14	Temi Namphing	81.33
15	Rangang Yangang	82.53
16	Tumin Lingee (BL)	82.66
17	Khamdong Singtam	82.32
18	West Pendam (SC)	81.15
19	Rhenok	82.02
20	Chujachen	80.44
21	Gnathang Machong (BL)	81.40
22	Namchwybong	82.42
23	Shyari (BL)	78.14
24	Martam Rumtek (BL)	80.23
25	Upper Tadong	73.54
26	Arithang	71.14
27	Gangtok (BL)	65.94
28	Upper Burtuk	78.77
29	Kabi Lungchuk (BL)	80.37
30	Djongu (BL)	86.49
31	Lachen Mangan (BL)	82.72
32	Sangha	74.62
	Total	80.97

Parties and candidates

Party Type	Code	Party Name	Number of candidates	Total
National Parties	BJP	Bharatiya Janata Party	13	45
National Parties	INC	Indian National Congress	32	45
State registered and recognized parties	SDF	Sikkim Democratic Front	32	32
State registered and unrecognised parties	TMC	Trinamool Congress	7	39
State registered and unrecognised parties	SKM	Sikkim Krantikari Morcha	32	39
Independents	n/a	Independents	5	5
Total:				121
Source:[9]

Results

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.



Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Sikkim Democratic Front	169,986	55.03	22	–10
	Sikkim Krantikari Morcha	126,024	40.80	10	New
	Indian National Congress	4,390	1.42	0	0
	Bharatiya Janata Party	2,208	0.71	0	0
	Trinamool Congress	586	0.19	0	0
	Independents	1,227	0.40	0	0
None of the above		4,460	1.44	–	–
Total		308,881	100.00	32	0

Valid votes		308,881	99.60
Invalid/blank votes		1,254	0.40
Total votes		310,135	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		370,770	83.65
Source: CEO Sikkim

Results by constituency

Winner, runner-up, voter turnout, and victory margin in every constituency[11][12][13][14]
Assembly Constituency		Turnout	Winner					Runner Up					Margin
#k	Names	%	Candidate	Party		Votes	%	Candidate	Party		Votes	%	Margin
1	Yoksam–Tashiding	86.02%	Sonam Dadul Bhutia		SDF	6,777	68.33%	Thutop Bhutia		SKM	2,559	25.8%	4,218
2	Yangthang	84.48%	Chandra Maya Limboo (Subba)		SDF	5,211	56.%	Kharka Bahadur Subba		SKM	3,572	38.39%	1,639
3	Maneybong–Dentam	85.79%	Narendra Kumar Subba		SDF	7,737	72.43%	Birbal Tamling		SKM	2,519	23.58%	5,218
4	Gyalshing–Barnyak	85.06%	Sher Bahadur Subedi		SDF	4,529	50.86%	Lok Nath Sharma		SKM	3,890	43.68%	639
5	Rinchenpong	85.86%	Karma Sonam Lepcha		SDF	7,347	68.37%	Pema Kinzang Bhutia		SKM	2,891	26.9%	4,456
6	Daramdin	84.65%	Danorbu Sherpa		SDF	6,250	54.89%	Mingma Narbu Sherpa		SKM	4,646	40.8%	1,604
7	Soreng–Chakung	85.47%	Ram Bahadur Subba		SDF	6,596	55.4%	Bharati Sharma		SKM	4,667	39.2%	1,929
8	Salghari–Zoom	83.7%	Arjun Kumar Ghatani		SDF	4,250	52.63%	Bhanu Pratap Rasaily		SKM	3,471	42.98%	779
9	Barfung	84.73%	Dorjee Dazom Bhutia		SDF	6,639	63.79%	Pema Wangyal Bhutia		SKM	3,460	33.24%	3,179
10	Poklok–Kamrang	86.18%	Kedar Nath Rai		SDF	7,996	68.85%	Bhoj Raj Rai		SKM	3,325	28.63%	4,671
11	Namchi–Singhithang	79.87%	Pawan Kumar Chamling		SDF	4,774	55.08%	Milan Rai		SKM	3,690	42.57%	1,084
12	Melli	84.57%	Tulshi Devi Rai		SDF	7,655	67.32%	Prem Bahadur Karki		SKM	3,406	29.95%	4,249
13	Namthang–Rateypani	83.53%	Tilu Gurung		SDF	5,947	53.84%	Prem Singh Tamang		SKM	4,792	43.38%	1,155
14	Temi–Namphing	83.75%	Garjaman Gurung		SDF	5,657	55.38%	Lalit Sharma		SKM	4,268	41.78%	1,389
15	Rangang–Yangang	84.48%	Pawan Kumar Chamling		SDF	6,343	63.84%	Bikash Basnet		SKM	3,201	32.22%	3,142
16	Tumin–Lingee	84.88%	Ugyen Tshering Gyatso Bhutia		SDF	7,191	62.26%	Nidup Tshering Lepcha		SKM	3,999	34.62%	3,192
17	Khamdong–Singtam	83.92%	Somnath Poudyal		SDF	4,718	49.13%	Dr. Mani Kumar Sharma		SKM	4,448	46.31%	270
18	West Pendam	82.63%	Gopal Baraily		SKM	5,382	52.45%	K. K. Thatal		SDF	4,462	43.49%	920
19	Rhenock	84.47%	Hemendra Adhikari		SKM	6,415	50.05%	Bhim Prasad Dhungel		SDF	5,461	42.6%	954
20	Chujachen	83.09%	Bikram Pradhan		SDF	7,836	60.98%	Kharga Bahadur Gurung		SKM	4,425	34.44%	3,411
21	Gnathang–Machong	85.51%	Dorjee Tshering Lepcha		SDF	5,017	58.21%	Sonam Dorjee		SKM	3,101	35.98%	1,916
22	Namchaybong	85.19%	Bek Bahadur Rai		SDF	5,577	50.72%	Dilip Rai		SKM	4,955	45.07%	622
23	Shyari	80.76%	Kunga Nima Lepcha		SKM	5,324	52.23%	Karma Tempo Namgyal Gyaltsen		SDF	4,588	45.01%	736
24	Martam–Rumtek	83.06%	Mechung Bhutia		SKM	6,055	50.24%	Menlom Lepcha		SDF	5,576	46.26%	479
25	Upper Tadong	76.6%	Timothy William Basnett		SKM	3,333	48.61%	Bhasker Basnett		SDF	3,211	46.83%	122
26	Arithang	73.22%	Shyam Pradhan		SKM	4,026	57.92%	Udai Lama		SDF	2,420	34.82%	1,606
27	Gangtok	68.17%	Pintso Chopel		SKM	4,208	61.28%	Hishey Lachungpa		SDF	2,317	33.74%	1,891
28	Upper Burtuk	81.42%	Prem Singh Tamang		SKM	5,272	50.73%	D. R. Thapa		SDF	4,699	45.21%	573
29	Kabi–Lungchok	84.83%	Ugen Nedup Bhutia		SKM	4,615	49.18%	Thenlay Tshering Bhutia		SDF	4,489	47.84%	126
30	Djongu	88.81%	Sonam Gyatso Lepcha		SDF	4,618	63.67%	Dawa Tshering Lepcha		SKM	2,443	33.68%	2,175
31	Lachen–Mangan	85.13%	Tshering Wangdi Lepcha		SDF	3,127	53.43%	Samdup Lepcha		SKM	2,570	43.92%	557
32	Sangha	75.69%	Sonam Lama		SKM	1,096	49.86%	Palden Lachungpa		SDF	971	44.18%	125

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.[15]

References

"Sikkim Legislative Assembly election 2014 voter turnout" (PDF). Chief Election Officer, Sikkim. April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
"Partywise assembly election result status". ECI. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
"ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA GENERAL ELECTIONS 2014 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES IN SIKKIM" (PDF). Election Commission Of India Portal, Page 57.
"SIKKIM LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY". legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in.
"STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1994 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
"STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1999 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
Dam, Marcus (21 May 2009). "Will strive to remove urban, rural disparities: Chamling". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 July 2004. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
"All my State wants is justice: Chamling". The Hindu. 20 May 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
"Sikkim Assembly polls LIVE: Pawan Chamling's fate hangs in balance as voting begins". Zee news. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
"Why Sikkim is more excited about assembly polls than Lok Sabha elections?". DNA. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
"Sikkim Result Status". ECI. p. 1. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
"Sikkim Result Status". ECI. p. 2. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
"Sikkim Result Status". ECI. p. 3. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
"Sikkim Result Status". ECI. p. 4. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
"Chamling sworn in as Sikkim CM for record fifth time". The Indian Express. Gangtok. Press Trust of India. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.

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[vt-1] "Sikkim Legislative Assembly election 2014 voter turnout" (PDF). Chief Election Officer, Sikkim. April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.

[ecia-2] "Partywise assembly election result status". ECI. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

[eci14-3] "ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA GENERAL ELECTIONS 2014 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES IN SIKKIM" (PDF). Election Commission Of India Portal, Page 57.

[4] "SIKKIM LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY". legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in.

[5] "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1994 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.

[6] "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1999 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.

[7] Dam, Marcus (21 May 2009). "Will strive to remove urban, rural disparities: Chamling". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 July 2004. Retrieved 28 October 2009.

[8] "All my State wants is justice: Chamling". The Hindu. 20 May 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.

[z-9] "Sikkim Assembly polls LIVE: Pawan Chamling's fate hangs in balance as voting begins". Zee news. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.

[10] "Why Sikkim is more excited about assembly polls than Lok Sabha elections?". DNA. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.

[11] "Sikkim Result Status". ECI. p. 1. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

[12] "Sikkim Result Status". ECI. p. 2. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

[13] "Sikkim Result Status". ECI. p. 3. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

[14] "Sikkim Result Status". ECI. p. 4. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

[15] "Chamling sworn in as Sikkim CM for record fifth time". The Indian Express. Gangtok. Press Trust of India. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.