Country: | Kingdom of Sikkim |
Type: | legislative |
Previous Election: | 1958 Sikkimese general election |
Previous Year: | 1958 |
Next Election: | 1970 Sikkimese general election |
Next Year: | 1970 |
Election Date: | 16 March 1967[1] |
Seats For Election: | 18 of the 24 seats in the State Council |
Party1: | Sikkim National Congress |
Last Election1: | – |
Seats1: | 8 |
Seat Change1: | New |
Party2: | Sikkim National Party |
Last Election2: | 6 |
Seats2: | 5 |
Seat Change2: | 1 |
Party3: | Sikkim State Congress |
Last Election3: | 7 |
Seats3: | 2 |
Seat Change3: | 5 |
General elections were held in Sikkim in March 1967, having been due earlier but postponed after a state of emergency was declared following the Sino-Indian War.[2] The Sikkim National Congress emerged as the largest single party, winning eight of the 24 seats.[2] Although the Sikkim National Party won only five seats, its parliamentary faction was joined by three others (one each from the Tsong (Limbu), Sangha and scheduled caste reserved seats).[2]
The State Council was established in 1953 by the Chogyal.[3] It originally had 18 members, of which 12 were elected and six (including the President) appointed by the Chogyal.[3] Of the 12 elected members, six were from the Nepali community and six from the Bhutia-Lepcha community.[3] For the 1958 elections the number of seats was increased to 20 by adding one seat for the Sangha and an additional appointed member.[3] In 1966, a further four seats had been added; one each for the Nepali and Lepcha/Bhutia communities, together with one for the Tsong (Limbu)[4] and a scheduled caste seat.[2]
Candidates for election to the Council had to be at least 30 years old, whilst the voting age was set at 21.[2]
Constituency | Reservation | Name | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gangtok | Bhutia-Lepcha | R. Namgyal | Sikkim National Congress | |
2 | Sikkimese Nepali | Chatur Singh Rai | Sikkim National Congress | ||
3 | East | Bhutia-Lepcha | Netuk Bhutia | Sikkim National Party | |
4 | Nima Tenzing | Sikkim National Party | |||
5 | Sikkimese Nepali | Nahakul Pradhan | Sikkim State Congress | ||
6 | South | Bhutia-Lepcha | Nayan Tsering Lepcha | Sikkim National Party | |
7 | Sikkimese Nepali | Garjaman Gurung | Sikkim National Congress | ||
8 | Thakur Singh Rai | Sikkim National Congress | |||
9 | West | Bhutia-Lepcha | Ongden Lepcha | Sikkim National Congress | |
10 | Sikkimese Nepali | Bhim Bahadur Gurung | Sikkim National Congress | ||
11 | Premlall Tiwari | Sikkim National Congress | |||
12 | North | Bhutia-Lepcha | Martam Topden | Sikkim National Party | |
13 | Pawo Tensung Bhutia | Sikkim National Party | |||
14 | Sikkimese Nepali | Jitbahadur Lama | Sikkim State Congress | ||
15 | General | None | Lendhup Dorji Khangsarpa | Sikkim National Congress | |
16 | Sangha | Pema Lama | Independent | ||
17 | Tsong | Harka Dhoj Tsong[5] | Independent | ||
18 | SC | Purna Bahadur Khati | Independent | ||
Source: Sikkim Darbar Gazette[6] | |||||
In addition to the elected members, six members were appointed to the Sikkim State Council by the Chogyal, which included R. N. Haldipur (Dewan of Sikkim and President of the Council), M. M. Rasailly, Hon. Lt. P. B. Basnet, Sonam Wangyal, I. B. Gurung, and Sangey Tempo.[7]
From the elected members, the following were appointed as members of the Executive Council, by the Chogyal:[8]
Name | Role | |
---|---|---|
1 | Netuk Tsering | Executive Councillor |
2 | Bhim Bahadur Gurung | Executive Councillor |
3 | Nahakul Pradhan | Executive Councillor |
4 | Nayan Tsering | Deputy Executive Councillor |
5 | Nima Tsering | Deputy Executive Councillor |
6 | Thakur Singh Rai[9] | Deputy Executive Councillor |