Sikkim elections: SDF declares 5 candidates, including 3 ex-legislators

Gangtok: On the day when the Sikkim Democratic Front party took out a protest rally for KN Rai in Gangtok, SDF named five candidates for the 2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly elections.

The five candidates include 3 former legislators Norzang Lepcha for the Tumin Lingee constituency, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha for the Dzongu constituency and former Rajya Sabha MP Hishey Lachungpa for the Lachen Mangan constituency. The two new candidates include Gnawong Chopel Lepcha for the Kabi Lungchok constituency while the controversial Ashis Rai also gets a party giving this time for the Arithang constituency.

SDF had denied Ashish Rai a ticket in the 2019 Sikkim elections, leading to vandalism in the SDF party headquarters by Ashish Rai supporters. Rai had contested independently in 2019 losing to Arun Upreti of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha.

Similarly, Hishey Lachungpa has served as an MLA previously from the Lachen-Mangan constituency prior to being the Rajya Sabha MP during the SDF regime. He was recently succeeded by his former cabinet colleague DT Lepcha nominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party and supported by SKM.

Norzang Lepcha has also served as an MLA for SDF from the same Tumin Lingee constituency.

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