1967 Sikkimese general election explained

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]

Electoral system

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]

Results

Constituency-wise

ConstituencyReservationNameParty
1GangtokBhutia-LepchaR. NamgyalSikkim National Congress
2Sikkimese NepaliChatur Singh RaiSikkim National Congress
3EastBhutia-LepchaNetuk BhutiaSikkim National Party
4Nima TenzingSikkim National Party
5Sikkimese NepaliNahakul PradhanSikkim State Congress
6SouthBhutia-LepchaNayan Tsering LepchaSikkim National Party
7Sikkimese NepaliGarjaman GurungSikkim National Congress
8Thakur Singh RaiSikkim National Congress
9WestBhutia-LepchaOngden LepchaSikkim National Congress
10Sikkimese NepaliBhim Bahadur GurungSikkim National Congress
11Premlall TiwariSikkim National Congress
12NorthBhutia-LepchaMartam TopdenSikkim National Party
13Pawo Tensung BhutiaSikkim National Party
14Sikkimese NepaliJitbahadur LamaSikkim State Congress
15GeneralNoneLendhup Dorji KhangsarpaSikkim National Congress
16SanghaPema LamaIndependent
17TsongHarka Dhoj Tsong[5] Independent
18SCPurna Bahadur KhatiIndependent
Source: Sikkim Darbar Gazette[6]

Appointed members

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]

Executive Council

From the elected members, the following were appointed as members of the Executive Council, by the Chogyal:[8]

NameRole
1Netuk TseringExecutive Councillor
2Bhim Bahadur GurungExecutive Councillor
3Nahakul PradhanExecutive Councillor
4Nayan TseringDeputy Executive Councillor
5Nima TseringDeputy Executive Councillor
6Thakur Singh Rai[9] Deputy Executive Councillor

Notes and References

  1. News: Around the World . . 16 March 1967 . Voters go to polls today in the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim, ... . 9 February 2022.
  2. Book: Encyclopaedia of North-East India . 7:Sikkim . . 2001 . Mittal Publications . 9788170997948 . 17.
  3. Bareh, p16
  4. The Tsongs (Limbus) Down the Ages in Sikkim . Journal of Global Literacies, Technologies, and Emerging Pedagogies. 5 . 2 . 1 December 2019 . Buddhi L. Khamdhak . 3 February 2021 . The Sikkimi Tsongs, Limbus or Yakthungs, are the Indigenous inhabitants of Sikkim. They are also commonly called 'Tsong' by the Bhutias and Lepchas in Sikkim.
  5. Web site: List of people who filed nomination papers . 158 . 17 January 1967 . Election Committee . 24 June 2021.
  6. Web site: Sikkim Darbar Gazette - Declaration of the Results of Election, 1967 . 8 April 1967 . 67–68 . 16 June 2021.
  7. Web site: Council Meeting Book . 2 . 21 December 1967 . 22 June 2021.
  8. Web site: Documents regarding the election results and proceedings of Executive Council . 31 May 1967 . 20 . 16 June 2021.
  9. Web site: Documents regarding the election results and proceedings of Executive Council . 9 July 1967 . 25 . 16 June 2021.