SKM bags 31 of 32, wins Gangtok on the trot; BJP, Cong draw a blank

Landslides usually evoke harrowing memories in Sikkim, but this term aptly describes the assembly election results in the Himalayan state. CM Prem Singh Tamang’s Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) returned to office for a second consecutive term, winning 31 of 32 seats on Sunday, reducing opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which had governed the state for 25 years until 2019, to a single seat.
Tamang (56) won both Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies, contributing to the party’s 58.38% of votes. SKM’s resounding success starkly contrasts with its performance in the 2019 elections, when it won 17 seats and SDF took 15.

PM Modi congratulated Tamang and SKM, expressing his eagerness to collaborate with the state govt to advance Sikkim’s progress. BJP contested 31 seats but did not win any, securing 5.18% of total votes. BJP decided to contest solo after seat-sharing talks with NDA ally SKM broke down. Congress drew a blank.
Our people have transcended divisive ideologies: Sikkim CM
Speaking at Paljor stadium in Gangtok on Sunday, SKM’s Prem Singh Tamang thanked the people of Sikkim and congratulated SKM supporters. “Our Sikkimese community has transcended past negativities and divisive ideologies,” he said, adding: “I also want to thank the opposition (SDF) as it is because of them that our party became stronger and more organised.”
Regarding the Lok Sabha elections, he expressed confidence in NDA forming the next govt with a forecast of crossing 400 seats.

“Congratulations to SKM and CM @PSTamangGolay for their victory in the Sikkim assembly Elections 2024. I look forward to working with the state government to further the progress of Sikkim in the coming times,” PM Modi tweeted.
Tamang thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “We are committed to continuing our efforts towards the development and prosperity of Sikkim”. In the outgoing assembly, BJP had 12 MLAs: 10 were defectors from SDF, and two won bypolls in Oct 2019 in alliance with SKM.