Suddenly, the stagnant politics of the State was enlivened on the eve of the polls when in February, one of Chamling’s closest and most trusted colleagues, Prem Singh Tamang, popularly known as Golay, rebelled against his leader’s allegedly ‘autocratic and undemocratic’ style of functioning, broke away from the SDF and formed his own party, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). Golay was elected to the State Assembly in 2009 as an SDF nominee and made a minister. This time the two-month-old baby party has thrown the hat into the ring. Golay has challenged his erstwhile mentor.

The challenge has already led to violence. In early March, an SDF youth leader, N. K. Gurung, was killed. The SDF blamed the SKM for the murder. Immediately, widespread clashes broke out between the supporters of the SDF and SKM, especially in the South District. The SKM alleged that Gurung was killed by the SDF. Following the incident, SKM called for a State-wide strike demanding that the SDF MLA of Melli , who was allegedly the ‘mastermind’ behind the attack on SKM supporters at Melli and Tobruk, should be arrested. The SKM has now approached the CBI requesting it to inquire into Gurung’s death.

That the challenge of the SKM cannot be lightly dismissed became evident when on March 22, Mayor of Gangtok, K. N. Topgay and Namchi Municipal Council chairman B. T. Tamang, accompanied by their followers, went in a procession from Lal Bazar to the SKM office in Tadong and officially joined the party. Topgay has accused Chief Minister Chamling of running a ‘one-man I-centric` party.

SDF, SKM and the Congress are contesting all the 32 seats, followed by BJP 14, TMC 9, AAP 6 and Independents 8. The all-India parties including the Congress are not likely to cut much ice with the electorate. The main contest will be between the ruling SDF and the break-away SKM. All the six major parties are also contesting the lone LS seat.

Meanwhile, a remark attributed to SDF president and Chief Minister Chamling has raised a storm of controversy between the two main rivals. At a foundation-day ceremony on March 4, Chamling was said to have remarked that the SKM was getting support from ‘goons’ coming from various parts of the neighbouring Darjeeling.district. Though the SDF later denied that the CM had made any such comment, the SKM is making a big issue of it. It has warned the SDF not to point its finger at the Darjeeling people who are ‘our good neighbours’.

Sikkim has one of the highest literacy rates in India – 82.2 per cent. And the rural literacy rate is as high as 79.82 per cent, much above the national average of 68.9 per cent. So the electorate here is discerning and politically conscious. They know that tourism is the main backbone of the State’s economy which has grown by leaps and bounds. From a mere Rs. 1 lakh of earning in 1995, the revenue from tourism rose to a massive Rs. 700 crore in 2010. The State Government continues to accelerate the pace of development of tourism. So whatever political changes take place, these must not adversely affect the economy. A political unrest in Sikkim will make a direct impact on tourism as happened during the long periods of movement in the adjacent Darjeeling district.

Sikkim also has great strategic importance for India. It is wedged between Bhutan on the east, Nepal on the west and China (Tibet) on the north. The Nathu La pass in Sikkim at an altitude of fourteen thousand feet connects it to Tibet. It was opened after several decades in 2006 but the volume of trade, both ways, has remained insignificant. Along the borders the Indian and Chinese armies face each other in perfect battle readiness.

In the circumstances, the recent political developments in Sikkim have aroused a great deal of interest. How big a challenge the SKM is posing to the SDF which has been enjoying a monopoly of power for two decades will be known only after the poll results are out. Meanwhile Sikkim-watchers are keeping their fingers crossed.(IPA Service)