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All 32 seats in the State Council 17 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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General elections were held in Sikkim on 13 April 1974. They were the first elections in Sikkim to be held on the basis of universal suffrage, and also the last prior to Indian annexation. [1] The result was a victory for the Sikkim National Congress, which won 31 of the 32 seats in the State Council. Kazi Lhendup Dorjee subsequently became Chief Minister. [2] In May 1975 Sikkim became a state of India, [3] at which point the State Council became the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. [4]
In the 1973 elections the Sikkim National Party won nine seats out of eighteen elected seats in the 24-seat Sikkim State Council. [5] The Sikkim National Congress and Sikkim Janata Congress claimed there had been vote rigging, leading to protests. Political parties and members of the public demanded one man, one vote. On 8 May 1973 a tripartite agreement was signed between the Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, political parties and the government of India. The agreement provided for the establishment of a responsible government under the supervision of a Chief Executive nominated by the Indian government. [6] [7]
Through the Representations of Sikkim Subjects Act, 1974, the Chogyal divided Sikkim into 31 territorial constituencies and one Sangha constituency. The 31 territorial constituencies were allocated as 15 for Nepalis, 15 for the Bhutia- Lepcha and one for scheduled castes, under a parity formula. The Sangha constituency represented Chogyal-recognized monasteries. [8]
The Sikkim National Congress contested all the 32 seats, whilst the Sikkim National Party contested five seats. Elections were held with the support of Election Commission of India. [9]
Party | Seats | +/– | |
---|---|---|---|
Sikkim National Congress | 31 | +26 | |
Sikkim National Party | 1 | –8 | |
Total | 32 | +8 | |
Source: Sikkim Assembly Website [10] |
# | Constituency | Reserved for [11] |
Winner | Party [12] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yoksam | BL | Degay Bhutia | Sikkim National Congress | |
2 | Tashiding | Kazi Lhendup Dorjee | |||
3 | Geyzing | Nepalis | Kumari Hemlata Chettri | ||
4 | Dentam | Narbahadur Khatiwada | |||
5 | Barmiok | Nanda Kumar Subedi | |||
6 | Rinchenpong | BL | Nayen Tshering Lepcha | ||
7 | Chakung | Nepalis | B. B. Gurung | ||
8 | Soreong | Chatur Singh Rai | |||
9 | Daramdin | Krishna Bahadur Limboo | |||
10 | Jorethang- Nayabazar | Krishna Chandra Pradhan | |||
11 | Ralang | BL | Passang Tshering Bhutia | ||
12 | Wak | Adar Singh Lepcha | |||
13 | Damthang | Nepalis | Ratna Bijay Rai | ||
14 | Melli | Nanda Bahadur Rai | |||
15 | Rateypani West | Pendam Bhuwani Prasad Kharel | |||
16 | Temi- Tarku | Badri Nath Pradhan | |||
17 | Central Pendam-East Pendam | Kehar Singh Karki | |||
18 | Rhenock | Bhawani Prasad Dahal | |||
19 | Regu | Mohan Gurung | |||
20 | Pathing | BL | Sonpom Lepcha | ||
21 | Loosing-Pachekhani | Nepalis | R. C. Poudyal | ||
22 | Khamdong | SC | Kusu Das | ||
23 | Djongu | BL | Loden Tsering Lepcha | ||
24 | Lachen-Mangshila | Tasa Tengay Lepcha | |||
25 | Kabi- Tingda | Kalzang Gyatso Bhutia | Sikkim National Party [13] | ||
26 | Rakdong-Tentek | Rinzing Tongden Lepcha | Sikkim National Congress | ||
27 | Martam | Shepochung Bhutia | |||
28 | Rumtek | Phigu Tshering Bhutia | |||
29 | Assam-Lingjey | Dugo Bhutia | |||
30 | Ranka | Nim Tshering Lepcha | |||
31 | Gangtok | Dorjee Tshering Bhutia | |||
32 | Sangha | Sangha | Karma Gonpo Lama | ||
Source: Sikkim Darbar Gazette [14] |
The Chogyal appointed the Council of Ministers on 23 July. [15] [16]
Name | Role |
---|---|
Kazi Lhendup Dorjee | Chief Minister |
Rinzing Tongden Lepcha | Minister |
Bhawani Prasad Dahal | |
Dorjee Tshering Bhutia | |
Krishna Chandra Pradhan |
... the Assembly for Sikkim formed as a result of the elections held in Sikkim in April, 1974 ... shall be deemed to be the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim
It further recited that the Chogyal as well as the representative of the people had requested the Government of India to assume responsibility ... to provide the head of the administration described as Chief Executive to help and achieve the State's objectives. ... The Chief Executive was to be nominated by the Government of India
This agreement had significantly curtailed the powers of the Chogyal and laid the grounds for holding fresh elections in April 1974 under the aegis of the Election Commission of India (ECI)
The First Sikkim Assembly formed through the election held in 1974 with 32 members is deemed to be the First Legislative Assembly of Sikkim ... Sikkim Congress led by Kazi Lhendup Dorjee won 31 seats and one seat went in favour of Sikkim National Party.
...Sikkim Congress Party and the Sikkim National Party would be the two parties to be given reserved symbols, the ladder with seven strings and the Swastika respectively.