Athup Lepcha Explained

Athup Lepcha
Birth Name:Athup Lepcha
Birth Date:1944 or 1945
Residence:Mangan, Sikkim[1]
Office:Member of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly
Constituency:Djongu
Term Start:1979
Term End:1985
Office1:Minister of Forest and Environment, Government of Sikkim
Constituency1:Djongu
Term Start1:1979
Term End1:1984
Party:HSP
(SJP > SPCC (INC) >)
Profession:Farmer, the President of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT)

Athup Lepcha is an Indian politician and environmental activist. He is the vice president of Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) and the president of "Affected Citizens of Teesta" (ACT), Non-governmental organization for environment and biodiversity.

Political ghcfytvcareer

In 1979 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Athup Lepcha stood as a candidate of Sikkim Janata Parishad (SJP) from Djongu Constituency. He won and beat the candidate of Janata Party, incumbent chief minister of Sikkim, Kazi Lhendup Dorjee. Athup Lepcha appointed to the State Minister for Forest and Environment in Nar Bahadur Bhandari ministry.

In 1984, Athup Lepcha became one of the leaders of anti-Bhandari, and denounced the corruption of Bhandari. Bhandari ousted Athup Lepcha from his political party.[2] In 1985 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Athup Lepcha stood as a candidate of Indian National Congress (INC). However, he was beaten by Sonam Choda Lepcha who was the candidate of Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) which was led by Bhandari.

In 1989 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Athup Lepcha stood as a candidate of INC and fought with Sonam Choda Lepcha again, but Athup lost and the margin with Sonam Choda was increased. In 1994 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Athup Lepcha couldn’t get any political parties’ ticket, and stood as an independent candidate. He received only 9 votes.

Athup Lepcha turned to the environmental protection movement, and he became the president of "Affected Citizens of Teesta" (ACT), Non-governmental organization for environment and biodiversity.[3]

In May 2018, Athup Lepcha came back to political circle of Sikkim after 24 years, and joined Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) which was led by Bhaichung Bhutia. Athup Lepcha was appointed one of the 9 vice presidents of HSP.[4] In 2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, he stood as a candidate of HSP from Djongu 5th times, he secured 88 votes (1.04%) with 4th position.

Electoral records

Sikkim Legislative Assembly election
YearConstituencyPolitical PartyResultPositionVotes% Votes% MarginDepositSource
1979DjonguSJP1st/486545.79+19.16refunded[5]
1985INC2nd/576532.72-30.11refunded[6]
19892nd/381025.47-47.55refunded[7]
1994IND4th/490.23-40.09forfeited[8]
2019HSP4th/4881.04-65.13forfeited[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Athup Lepcha(Hamro Sikkim Party):Constituency- DJONGU(NORTH) - Affidavit Information of Candidate .
  2. Book: Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim. 2007. Mittal Publications, pp.138-140.. 978-8170997948. Encyclopedia of North-East India vol.7. H.M. Bareh. 18 November 2019.
  3. Web site: About us. Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACI). 18 November 2019.
  4. News: Hamro Sikkim Party launched at Daramdin. Sikkim Express. 11 November 2019. 1 June 2018.
  5. Web site: STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1979 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM. ECI. 18 November 2019. 1979.
  6. Web site: STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1985 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM. ECI. 18 November 2019. 1985.
  7. Web site: STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1989 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM. ECI. 18 November 2019. 1989.
  8. Web site: STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1994 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM. ECI. 18 November 2019. 1994.
  9. News: Djongu Election Result 2019 LIVE COUNTING. Firstpost. 18 November 2019. 27 May 2019. 8 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190608084225/https://www.firstpost.com/sikkim-assembly-elections/djongu-election-results-2019-s21a030. dead.