Biraj Adhikari Explained
Biraj Adhikari (12 June 1961 – 7 March 2024) was an Indian politician. Born in Sikkim, Adhikari first became the general secretary of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, a branch of the Indian National Congress. Adhikari then joined the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad, followed by forming and becoming president of the Sikkim National People's Party. He also took part in several elections in the state of Sikkim as part of these parties and the Hamro Sikkim Party, before retiring from active politics a few months prior to his death in March 2024.
Political career
Adhikari was the general secretary of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC), a Sikkim branch of the Indian National Congress (INC) led by Nar Bahadur Bhandari.[1] In 2004, as the candidate of the INC, Adhikari contested the sole Lok Sabha seat from Sikkim, but was defeated by a candidate from the ruling party Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).
In May 2006, because of discontent with Bhandari's leadership, Adhikari left the SPCC.[2] Thereafter, he joined and served as the spokesperson of the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP).[3] Adhikari was then removed from the SHRP in October 2008, and on 10 October, he established and was elected president of the Sikkim National People's Party (SNPP).[4]
Adhikari took part in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly election of 2009, contesting from two constituencies, Rhenock and Chujachen. However, SNPP could not be registered in the List of Political Parties of Election Commission of India (ECI) before the election period,[5] as a result, Adhikari and other SNPP candidates ran as independent candidates. They received 6.26% votes or less in each constituency.
In 2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Adhikari and the SNPP did not contest the election,[6] though in January 2018, Adhikari announced that SNPP would contest the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Election 2019.[7] However, in August that year, Adhikari transferred and was appointed as spokesperson of the Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) which was led by Bhaichung Bhutia.[8] [9] Delay Namgyal Barfungpa did not follow Adhikari, and Barfungpa was elected to the new SNPP president by party members.[10]
In both 2019 Sikkim Lok Sabha Election and 2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election (Rhenock constituency), Adhikari stood as the candidate of HSP, losing in both elections.[11] [12]
On 30 August 2023, Adhikari resigned from HSP due to health issues, including cancer.[13]
Death
Biraj Adhikari died at a hospital in Manipal, Tadong, Gangtok on 7 March 2024, at the age of 62. He had been hospitalised since February 2024 and had retired from active politics due to health issues.[14]
Electoral record
- Sikkim Legislative Assembly election
Year | Constituency | Political Party | Result | Position | Votes | % Votes | % Margin | Deposit | Source |
---|
2009 | Rhenock | | | 3rd/5 | 225 | 2.16 | −51.56 | forfeited | [15] |
Chujachen | | 8th/8 | 71 | 0.66 | −73.69 | forfeited | |
2019 | Rhenock | | | 6th/7 | 85 | 0.60 | −55.84 | forfeited | [16] | |
- Lok Sabah election, Sikkim
Year | Constituency | Political Party | Result | Position | Votes | % Votes | % Margin | Deposit | Source |
---|
2004 | Sikkim | | | 2nd/4 | 60,258 | 27.43 | −42.41 | refunded | [17] |
2019 | | | 6th/10 | 1,998 | 0.57 | −46.89 | forfeited | [18] | |
Notes and References
- Web site: 7 March 2024 . Senior Sikkim politician Biraj Adhikari passes away, CM express grief . 14 March 2024 . Northeast Live . en-US . 12 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240312051649/https://northeastlivetv.com/topnews/senior-sikkim-politician-biraj-adhikari-passes-away-cm-express-grief/ . live .
- News: Seven from Sikkim quit Congress. The Telegraph. 20 November 2019. 28 May 2006. 13 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220413121921/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/seven-from-sikkim-quit-congress/cid/804255. live.
- News: SHRP demands white paper on rights of Limboo-Tamang. oneindia. 28 November 2019. 17 February 2008. 27 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191127235649/https://www.oneindia.com/2008/02/16/shrp-demands-white-paper-on-rights-of-limboo-tamang-1203218754.html. live.
- Book: Srivastava, Aaku . Sensex Of Regional Parties: Sensex Of Regional Parties by Aaku Srivastava: Understanding the Dynamics of Regional Politics in India . 6 September 2022 . Prabhat Prakashan . 978-93-5521-236-8 . en.
- Web site: Political Parties And Election Symbols as on 14-03-2009. ECI. 1 November 2019. 14 March 2009. 1 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191101093514/https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4148-political-parties-and-election-symbols-as-on-14-03-2009/. live. Meanwhile, SJEP could be registered in this List as the No. 894.
- Web site: 29 January 2018 . SNPP to contest 2019 Sikkim assembly polls . 14 March 2024 . . en . 14 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314191504/https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/snpp-to-contest-2019-sikkim-assembly-polls-1156600-2018-01-29 . live .
- News: SNPP to contest 2019 Sikkim assembly polls. Business Standard. 31 October 2019. 29 January 2018. 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129125559/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/snpp-to-contest-2019-sikkim-assembly-polls-118012900726_1.html. live.
- Web site: 6 August 2018 . Sikkim: State politicians, K.N. Upreti & Biraj Adhikari joins HSP . 14 March 2024 . The Northeast Today . en-IN . 14 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314190656/https://thenortheasttoday.com/currentaffairs/politicsandgovernance/sikkim-state-politicians-k-n-upreti-biraj-adhikari-joins/cid2516832.htm . live .
- News: K.N. Upreti & Biraj Adhikari joins Hamro Sikkim Party. Sikkim Express. 31 October 2019. 6 August 2018. 7 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220507020201/http://sikkimexpress.com/NewsDetails?ContentID=11691. live.
- News: Delay Namgyal is new SNPP president. Sikkim Express. 31 October 2019. 13 August 2018. 14 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240314190557/https://sikkimexpress.com/NewsDetails?ContentID=11793&SectionID=. live.
- Web site: Sikkim Election Results, Sikkim Lok Sabha Election Results 2019, Live Polls Coverage, Voting Count of Sikkim . 14 March 2024 . . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203171617/https://www.india.com/lok-sabha-election-2019/sikkim/sikkim/ . live .
- News: 22 May 2019 . Sikkim Assembly and parliament results live Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling wins both Assembly seats . 14 March 2024 . . en-IN . 0971-751X . 25 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125031407/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/sikkim-assembly/sikkim-assembly-and-parliament-results-live/article27203979.ece . live .
- Web site: 30 August 2023 . Senior Sikkim Politician and HSP General Secretary Biraj Adhikari resigns from party due to health reasons . 14 March 2024 . Northeast Live . en-US . 14 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314190730/https://northeastlivetv.com/topnews/senior-sikkim-politician-and-hsp-general-secretary-biraj-adhikari-resigns-from-party-due-to-health-reasons/ . live .
- Web site: 7 March 2024 . Senior Sikkim politician Biraj Adhikari passes away, CM express grief . 7 March 2024 . Northeast Live . 12 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240312051649/https://northeastlivetv.com/topnews/senior-sikkim-politician-biraj-adhikari-passes-away-cm-express-grief/ . live .
- Web site: Statistical Report on General Election, 2009 to the Legislative Assembly or Sikkim. ECI. 31 October 2019. 2009. 5 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190605155134/https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3364-sikkim-2009/. live.
- News: Rhenock Election Result 2019 Live Counting. Firstpost. 20 November 2019. 27 May 2019. 8 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190608091244/https://www.firstpost.com/sikkim-assembly-elections/rhenock-election-results-2019-s21a019. live.
- Web site: Statistical Report on General Elections, 2004 to the Fourteenth Lok Sabha. 281. Election Commission of India. 20 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20140718190634/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf. 18 July 2014.
- News: Sikkim Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Live. News 18. 20 November 2019. 27 May 2019. 4 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201004013143/https://www.news18.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019/sikkim/sikkim-election-result-s21p01/. live.