Sikkim National People's Party

Last updated

Sikkim National People's Party
AbbreviationSNPP
President Biraj Adhikari > Delay Namgyal Barfungpa
Founder Biraj Adhikari
Founded10 October 2008(15 years ago) (2008-10-10)
Dissolved22 March 2022(2 years ago) (2022-03-22)
Merged into Sikkim Krantikari Morcha
Headquarters Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Ideology Localism
ColoursWhite and Red
ECI Status Registered-Unrecognized State Party (Sikkim) (2019–22) [1]
Alliance Sikkim Progressive Alliance (2019)

The Sikkim National People's Party (SNPP) was a regional political party (State Party (Unrecognized)) in the Indian state of Sikkim. Election symbol was Pen Nib. SNPP didn't have any relationship with Sikkim National Party (SNP) in same state or National People's Party (NPP) in the state of Meghalaya.

Contents

History

Pre-SNPP history

Biraj Adhikari and Delay Namgyal Barfungpa were members of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC, Sikkim branch of Indian National Congress (INC)) which was led by Nar Bahadur Bhandari. In 2004, as the candidates of INC, Adhikari contested the sole Lok Sabha seat from Sikkim, [2] Barfungpa contested the Sikkim Legislative seat from Rumtek Constituency. [3] Both were defeated by candidates of the ruling party Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).

In May 2006, because of discontent with Bhandari's leadership, Biraji Adhikari seceded from SPCC. [4] He joined Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) as the spokesperson of it. [5] Meanwhile, there is not much information on the movement of Delay Namgyal Barfungpa from 2004 to 2008, but he also seceded from SPCC at some point.

Establishment of SNPP

On 10 October 2008, Adhikari seceded from SHRP, and established the new party, Sikkim National People's Party (SNPP) for fighting with SDF. Adhikari was elected to the president, Tseten Dorjee Lepcha was elected as the working president, and Delay Namgyal Barfungpa was elected to the treasurer. [6]

In the Sikkim Legislative Assembly election of 2009, Adhikari contested from 2 constituencies (Rhenock and Chujachen), Tseten Dorjee Lepcha contested from Djongu constituency and Barfungpa contested from Gangtok constituency. SNPP formed the electoral alliance, United Sikkimese Alliance (USA) with Sikkim Jan-Ekta Party (SJEP). [7] With the exception of SJEP, SNPP didn't affiliate with SPCC or other opposition parties.

However, SNPP couldn't be registered in the List of Political Parties of Election Commission of India (ECI) before the election period, [8] so they had to run as independent candidates. As a result, they received 6.26% votes (Tseten Dorjee Lepcha in Djongu) or less in each constituency. [9]

Secession of Adhikari

Delay Namgyal Barfungpa was promoted to the vice president of SNPP at some point from 2009 to 2012. In the Sikkim Legislative Assembly election of 2014 SNPP didn't contest and appealed to voters to be politically conscious, pointing out the "None of the Above" (NOTA) option. [10]

In January 2018 SNPP announced that it would contest the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Election 2019. [11] However, in August 2018 Adhikari resigned from the president and seceded from SNPP. He transferred to Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) which is led by Bhaichung Bhutia, and Adhikari was appointed to the spokesperson of the party. [12] Barfungpa didn't follow Adhikari, and Barfungpa was elected to the SNPP president by party members. [13]

Barfungpa’s leaderships

In March 2019 SNPP participated in the election alliance, Sikkim Progressive Alliance (SPA) which was formed by Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP), Sikkim Rajya Manch Party (SRMP) and Sikkim United Front Party (SUFP). [14] SPA sent 8 candidates for 2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, 1 candidate for 2019 Sikkim Lok Sabah election, and 3 of 9 were SNPP candidates. [15]

But SNPP had not been registered in the List of Political Parties of ECI by the election date. [16] Barfungpa and another 2 SNPP candidates had to run as independent candidates, again. Barfungpa received only 97 votes (1.31%, 4th position of 6 candidates) in Gangtok constituency. [17]

Before the October same year By-Election of Sikkim Legislative Assembly (3 constituencies), the candidate of HSP from Gangtok constituency, Bhaichung Bhutia proposed a pre-poll alliance to Barfungpa, but Barfungpa didn't accept it. [18] SNPP was planning to participate in this By-Election, and sent only Barfungpa to contest from Gangtok constituency as an independent candidate for a third time.

Just at that time, SNPP had finally been registered to the List of the Political Parties of ECI as the State Party (Unrecognized) on September 25, 2019. [1] As the result, this was the first and final election that SNPP could contest by using its own party's name.

In this By-Election from Gangtok constituency, the candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Yong Tshering Lepcha was elected by 2,508 (40.88%) votes. At the same time, Barfungpa became a runner-up candidate by 1,498 (24.42%) votes, and he could refund his deposit of candidacy. [19]

SNPP merged into SKM

In March 2022 Delay Namgyal Barfungpa joined the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and merged SNPP with SKM. SNPP executive members and party supporters also officially merged with it. [20]

Ideology and political positions

SNPP advocated the safeguarding of interests of Sikkimese people and the special status for the state of Sikkim. It insisted that the protection of the Constitution of India's Article 371F [21] and the reintroduction of the Sikkim Tax Manual. [22] SNPP demanded that Government of Sikkim has to provide free electricity & medicines for the people of Sikkim. [23]

SNPP also demanded that the Nepali seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly should be reinstated. At the same time, it opposed the merger of Darjeeling hills with Sikkim. [23]

In December 2012 Delay Namgyal Barfungpa petitioned the Supreme Court with corruption allegations against the ruling political party (1994-2019) SDF Government. [24] In May 2019 Barfungpa attended the swearing-in ceremony for the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang (P.S. Golay) who is the president of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). Conversely, the former Chief Minister and president of SDF, Pawan Kumar Chamling had boycotted it. [25] In the by-election 2019 Barfungpa criticized that the BJP-SKM alliance is a kind of backdoor politics. [18]

Electoral records

Sikkim Legislative Assembly election
YearTotal SeatsSeats ContestedSeats WonForfeited Deposits % Votes ContestedSource
2019 (by-election)310024.42 [26]

Presidents

Organisation

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikkim Democratic Front</span> Political party in India

Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) is a regional political party in the Indian state of Sikkim. It was the ruling party in Sikkim from 12 December 1994 to 23 May 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee</span> Indian political party

The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee(SPCC) is the unit of the Indian National Congress for the state of Sikkim, India. It is responsible for organizing and coordinating the party's activities and campaigns within the state, as well as selecting candidates for local, state, and national elections. Its head office is situated in Gangtok.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikkim Krantikari Morcha</span> Indian political party

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha is a political party in the Indian state of Sikkim which is the ruling party of Sikkim since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election</span> 2014 election of the Indian state assembly of Sikkim

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prem Singh Tamang</span> 6th Chief Minister of Sikkim

Prem Singh Tamang, better known as P. S. Golay, is an Indian politician, and former teacher who is serving as the 6th and current Chief Minister of Sikkim since 2019 and the founder and leader of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha since 2019. He represents the Poklok-Kamrang in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly since 2019, Upper Burtuk from 2009 to 2019 and Chakung from 1994 to 2009. Before forming the SKM party, he was a key member of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Party.

Sikkim Rajya Manch Party (SRMP) (English Translation: Sikkim State Forum Party) is a regional political party in the Indian state of Sikkim. Founder and Incumbent President is Rup Narayan Chamling (R. N. Chamling) who is a little brother of former Chief Minister of Sikkim and the president of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), Pawan Kumar Chamling.

Hamro Sikkim Party was a regional political party in the Indian state of Sikkim. The incumbent president of this party is Bhaichung Bhutia. Its election symbol is a Whistle.

Gangtok Assembly constituency is one of the 32 assembly constituencies of Sikkim a north east state of India. Gangtok is part of Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency. This constituency has been reserved for Scheduled Tribes since 2009.

Sonam Lama is an Indian politician and monk in Sikkim. He is a minister in Second Tamang ministry. He was also a minister in First Tamang ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sangha Assembly constituency</span> Legislative Assembly constituency in Sikkim State, India

Sangha Assembly constituency is one of the 32 assembly constituencies of Sikkim, a state in the Northeast region of India. It is a part of the Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency. As of 2019, Sonam Lama is the holder of this seat. His current term is expected to end by 2024.

Kunga Nima Lepcha is an Indian politician in Sikkim. He is the acting president of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), incumbent member of Sikkim Legislative Assembly and the state Minister of Prem Singh Tamang ministry.

Pintso Namgyal Lepcha is a Sikkim Krantikari Morcha politician from Sikkim. He has been elected in Sikkim Legislative Assembly election in 2014 and 2019 from Djongu constituency as candidate of Sikkim Democratic Front but later he joined Bharatiya Janata Party. He later joined Sikkim Krantikari Morcha.

Martam–Rumtek Assembly constituency is one of the 32 assembly constituencies of Sikkim a north east state of India. Martam-Rumtek is part of Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency. This Constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

Delay Namgyal Barfungpa is an Indian politician.

Karananda Upreti, better known as K. N. Upreti is an Indian politician in Sikkim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biraj Adhikari</span> Indian politician (1961–2024)

Biraj Adhikari was an Indian politician. Born in Sikkim, Adhikari first became the general secretary of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, a branch of the Indian National Congress. Adhikari then joined the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad, followed by forming and becoming president of the Sikkim National People's Party. He also took part in several elections in the state of Sikkim as part of these parties and the Hamro Sikkim Party, before retiring from active politics a few months prior to his death in March 2024.

Sikkim United Front Party (SUFP) is a regional political party in the Indian state of Sikkim. Founder and Incumbent President is Narendra Adhikari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. T. Dhungel</span> Indian politician

Gay Tshering Dhungel is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the Member of Sikkim Legislative Assembly from the Upper Tadong Constituency. He is a minister in Second Tamang ministry.

Tenzing Norbu Lamtha is an Indian politician from Sikkim belonging from the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly in the 11th Sikkim Legislative Assembly. He won over SKM's incumbent candidate Kunga Nima Lepcha with a margin of 1314 votes. He was the sole MLA for SDF in the 2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly Elections.On 10 July 2024 he formally joined to Sikkim Krantikari Morcha.

References

  1. 1 2 "Amending notification regarding political parties and their election symbols dated 25.09.2019". Election Commission of India (ECI). 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019. SNPP was registered in this list with No.2463.
  2. "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 2004 TO THE 14th LOK SABHA VOLUME III". ECI. 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  3. "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2004 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM". ECI. 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  4. "Seven from Sikkim quit Congress". The Telegraph. 28 May 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  5. "SHRP demands white paper on rights of Limboo-Tamang". oneindia. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  6. "State government and central government should protect our right: Biraj Adhikari". prabinkhaling.blogspot. 28 March 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  7. "SNPP, SJP forms 'United Sikkimese Alliance'". prabinkhaling.blogspot. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  8. "Political Parties And Election Symbols as on 14-03-2009". ECI. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2019. Meanwhile, SJEP could be registered in this List as the No. 894.
  9. "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2009 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM". ECI. 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  10. "SNPP appeals voters to be politically conscious, points out NOTA option". Sikkim NOW!. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  11. "SNPP to contest 2019 Sikkim assembly polls". Business Standard. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  12. "K.N. Upreti & Biraj Adhikari joins Hamro Sikkim Party". Sikkim Express. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  13. "Delay Namgyal is new SNPP president". Sikkim Express. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  14. "Four Parties form Sikkim Progressive Alliance". United News of India. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  15. "SPA Announces 9 Candidates Including Lok Sabha Candidate". The Voice of Sikkim (TVOS). 17 March 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019. However, on the eve of this election, SSP withdrew its candidate, Tara Battarai in Upper Tadong.
  16. "POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTION SYMBOLS". ECI. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  17. "Gangtok Election Result 2019 LIVE COUNTING". Firstpost. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  18. 1 2 "Delay Namgyal critical of BJP entry plan in Sikkim". Sikkim Express. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  19. "Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang wins from Poklok Kamrang seat, BJP bags two seats". Economic Times. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  20. "DELAY NAMGYAL'S SNPP MERGES WITH SKM". Sikkim Express. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  21. "No match for Sikkim's victorious regional parties since 1979". The Times of India. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  22. "Sikkim party wants old tax law back". The Telegraph. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019. In 2008, Sikkim Tax Manual had been repealed by the introduction of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
  23. 1 2 "SNPP demands free electricity & medicines, says SDF failed to deliver basic facilities". the northeast today. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  24. "Delay Namgyal petitions Supreme Court with corruption allegations against CM and State Govt". Sikkim NOW!. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  25. "PS Golay takes oath as Sikkim's 6th CM". Sikkim Express. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  26. "Final result of Gangtok bye-poll". Sikkim Express (Facebook). 25 October 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.