According to the Election Commission, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) secured a sweeping victory in the Himalayan state, clinching 31 out of 32 seats in the assembly polls. The opposition Sikkim Democratic Front managed to secure only one seat. Elections for the Sikkim Assembly took place simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls on April 19.

Currently, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) is leading in only one constituency. Vote counting commenced at 6 am on Sunday, with stringent security measures implemented.

In the Rhenock assembly constituency, Chief Minister and SKM candidate Prem Singh Tamang leads by approximately 4,830 votes over his closest SDF rival, Som Nath Poudyal. Similarly, in the Soreng Chakung Assembly constituency, Tamang holds a lead of 2,052 votes over his nearest SDF opponent, A D Subba.

Former Chief Minister and SDF supremo Pawan Kumar Chamling is trailing behind SKM candidate Raju Basnet by 546 votes in the Namcheybung seat. Additionally, in the Poklok Kamrang Assembly constituency, Chamling lags behind Bhoj Raj Ral of SKM by 1,057 votes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended congratulations to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang for their triumph in the Sikkim Assembly Elections on Sunday. Expressing anticipation for collaborating with the State government, he conveyed, "Congratulations to SKM and CM PS Tamang Golay for their victory in the Sikkim Assembly Elections 2024, I look forward to working with the State Government to further the progress of Sikkim in the coming times," in a post on X.

In the Barfung Assembly seat, former India Football captain and SDF candidate Bhaichung Bhutia trails behind his SKM rival, Riksal Dorjee Bhutia, by 2,872 votes. Meanwhile, Dilli Ram Thapa, the Sikkim BJP unit president, is also behind his SKM opponent, Kala Rai, by 1,543 votes in the Upper Burtuk Assembly constituency.

The results of the Sikkim assembly elections are set to be declared today. Polling for the assembly elections took place on April 19, with 146 candidates vying for victory across 32 assembly constituencies.

Notable contenders include Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, his predecessor Pawan Kumar Chamling, former India Football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, and Tamang's spouse, Krishna Kumari Rai.

The necessity for a party to secure at least 17 seats to form a government was emphasised, particularly as the Sikkim Democratic Front's 25-year dominance ended with the SKM gaining 17 seats in the 2019 elections.

In the 2024 assembly elections, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, leading the campaign for a second consecutive term with the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), conducted an intensive campaign.

Following the conclusion of his campaign, Pawan Kumar Chamling, the five-term former chief minister and leader of the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), engaged with constituents in his hometown of Namchi, particularly within the Poklok-Kamrang assembly constituency.

Image source: Times of India