Gangtok: Sikkim’s Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections across 63 wards in the state witnessed electoral contest in only one ward—Diesel Power House (DPH) under the Gangtok Municipal Corporation—on Friday.
According to the State Election Commission, Sikkim, 718 votes, accounting for a 25.09 per cent turnout, were cast between 8 am and 12 pm in Ward No. 10 (Diesel Power House). The total number of voters in the ward is 2,862.
The remaining 61 wards went uncontested, with most candidates withdrawing their nominations in favour of either the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In one ward at Pani House, no contest took place as all candidates withdrew their nominations.
In the Diesel Power House ward, two candidates were initially in the fray—sitting councillor Bindya Cintury and BJP’s Srijana Chettri, a first-time candidate. However, a day before polling on April 23, Cintury extended her support to Chettri.
Addressing a press conference on April 23 in the presence of Gangtok MLA Delay Namgyal Barphungpa and SKM party members, Cintury urged her supporters to vote for the BJP candidate, citing smoother implementation of central and state schemes for the benefit of the ward.
While Cintury did not officially comment on the reasons behind her decision, some voters in the ward alleged that she faced pressure to extend support to the BJP candidate in view of the SKM-BJP alliance.
Meanwhile, BJP candidate Srijana Chettri expressed confidence ahead of the polls and acknowledged the alliance between SKM and BJP. She thanked voters for their support and said she was “100 per cent confident” of winning the election.
Chettri described Cintury’s support as significant, calling her “like a sister” who had worked effectively as councillor in the ward. She said such backing would help ensure coordinated development efforts.
She also highlighted that, as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the alliance would facilitate better coordination between the Centre and the state in implementing schemes.
Outlining her priorities, Chettri said she would focus on improving health services, developing RCC footpaths, carrying out beautification works and ensuring proper management of jhoras (streams) in the ward.
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