SNPP, SJP forms ‘United Sikkimese Alliance’

GANGTOK, 2 April : Two regional parties, Sikkim National Peoples Party (SNPP) and Sikkim Janekta Party (SJP) today formed an electoral alliance ‘United Sikkimese Alliance (USA)’ for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Sikkim.

Announcing the alliance today in a press meet here in Gangtok, SNPP president Biraj Adikhari said that the alliance has been formed ‘respecting the sentiments of the people’.
“Forget the common people of Sikkim, even NGOs are calling the opposition parties to unitedly fight the coming elections so as to ensure a one to one fight against the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party”, said Mr. Adikhari.

“We tried our best to convince the other regional and national parties to set up a united front in the coming elections so that our votes are not distributed ensuring an easy victory for the SDF”, said Mr. Adikhari, who has been nominated as the convener of the newly floated alliance ‘USA’. Though, today only two regional parties are in USA, we are in dialogue with the two more political parties, he said.

“The door is open for other parties to join USA unconditionally”, said Mr. Adikhari. The main objective is to prevent vote distribution of the opposition parties, he added.
SJP president Basant Rai said that ‘USA’ has been formed to answer the call of the people who want a united Opposition in the State. “Though we new parties but we are trying to show the way to the other opposition parties that an electoral alliance is possible to achieve objective of ousting the ruling SDF party from the government”, he said.

“USA will try to field candidates in all the 32 Assembly seats in the coming elections. We will work out our candidates in our own strongholds and jointly campaign”, said Mr. Adikhari. He explained that while SNPP will be concentrating in North and East districts, SJP will be given charge of election campaigning in South and West districts. In some areas, both the parties will jointly campaign, he said.

The list of USA candidates will be declared within the next four-five days and we are hopeful that two more political parties will join us, said Mr. Adikhari. He also said that alliance will work out a manifesto with a common minimum programme.
“We have agreed on some points like restoration of Nepali seats in the Assembly and unemployment issue to be included in the common minimum programme”, said Mr. Adikhari.