GANGTOK, Feb 22: Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) president Dr. AD Subba today announced that he will contest from the Soreng-Chakung constituency, a seat where even the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) chief Nar Bahadur Bhandari is reportedly very keen on.
There are also two SDF party heavyweights, RB Subba and PS Golay who had represented the people from Soreng and Chakung constituencies from 2004 elections.
Mr. Subba had defeated his nearest rival Ashok Tsong by 3,862 while Mr. Golay had been elected from Soreng constituency by defeating his nearest rival Satish Mohan Pradhan by 6501 votes, the highest margin in the 2004 elections.
Now as per the new delimitation report, parts of these areas have been merged in a single Soreng-Chakung constituency.
"I will contest from Soreng. It has been decided as per the people's demand", said the SHRP president today in a press meet here at Gangtok.
Dr. Subba also said that the party has finalized its candidates for 23 Assembly seats for the upcoming elections. There are four women in the selected candidates and we want to have around 10 women candidates in all the 32 seats, he said.
"We have selected 23 candidates so far and will finally put our party candidates for all the 32 seats", the SHRP president.
Dr. Subba's determination to have his party candidates in all the 32 Assembly seats in the coming elections sends jarring notes in the unity chorus of United Democratic Front (UDF).
The UDF had been formed on February 15 by leaders of State units of Congress, CPIM and BJP along with SHRP and Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party (SGPP). The objective of UDF was to ensure 'free and fair elections' besides reaching a 'tactical understanding' among its members.
It has also been announced that the upcoming elections will be a straight contest between SDF and UDF.
However, the SHRP chief's determination to go ahead with his party candidates in all the 32 Assembly seats does not match with the latent aspirations of UDF.
Regarding this, Dr. Subba tried to his best to play safe.
"UDF's main agenda is to ensure free and fair elections and to have a tactical understanding. I will put forward all my party's 32 candidates and after that, we will see it with UDF", said Dr. Subba.
The party's president also justified for contesting in all the 32 Assembly seats.
"If I don't fit candidates in all the 32 seats, it will be a sign of SHRP's incompetence", Dr. Subba rationalized. He added that people have been demanding 'candidates' from SHRP.
"I have already appointed in-charges for 19 constituencies and have directed them to go on a public contact mission in their designated areas. If people select them only, they will be party candidates", Dr. Subba said.
The next list of party incharges will be fixed this Tuesday during a high level meeting of the party, the SHRP president said. He also claimed that several Panchayats belonging to the ruling SDF party have joined SHRP.
"Some of them are uncontested Panchayats and they have pledged support to SHRP in writing", said Dr. Subba. But we have not exposed their names and we are actively working underground to woo other Panchayats and SDF members, he added.
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