SDF celebrates 27th Foundation Day in Sikkim

CM says that the party must win from every single booth in the coming Assembly elections

Namchi, 4 March: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) celebrated its 27^th Foundation Day in a grand central function in Namchi, South Sikkim today with local functions in all 31 assembly constituencies. 75,000 people were part of the state-wide celebrations. The celebrations are a tribute to 4^th March 1993 when the revolution against the anti-people and autocratic Sikkim Sangram Parishad government was formalised by the formation of the SDF party. The annual celebrations on the foundation day of the SDF are a commemoration of true democracy coming to Sikkim and the years of good governance that followed for 25 years after the party came to power in 1994.

In a first in Sikkim, the central function in Namchi was relayed across all the 31 constituencies through LED set-ups. More than 1.5 lakh people tuned into the celebrations via social media. This has come after the widely successful #MyFirstVote4Chamling campaign through which the youth could pledge their vote for Pawan Chamling, connect directly with the CM and share their ideas for Sikkim’s future through the official website. These digital campaigns are a mark of how the party is going tech-savvy and revolutionising campaigning in Sikkim. This is also a testament to SDF’s ‘Youth-first’ approach where youth are active stakeholders and partners in Sikkim’s progress.

The function in Namchi followed a Townhall style format, a first in India, which brought about closer interaction with the public. The public could easily communicate with the CM and raise their concerns and ideas.

The official slogan for SDF’s campaign was also released, “Hija dekhi aaja samma, aaja dekhi bholi samma, agi badau Chamling sangha”, which means that Chamling has been there with us in the past, in the present and we will walk with Chamling towards our future. A song and video were released for the same which was well-received by the public.

The CM in his speech spoke of the inception of the party saying, “We founded SDF party to re-establish democracy in Sikkim. We wanted to give constitutional rights, human rights to all. Protect Sikkimese language, culture, tradition and give recognition to all communities”, and renewed the party’s commitment to protecting these rights in the times to come, “we will protect Nepali and Residential Certificate holder businessmen and women in Sikkim. We will not let anyone encroach on the rights of Sikkimese people.”

The development that the SDF party has brought about in 25 years has been unparalleled. The CM stated that, “25 years ago, our GDP was 440 crores and today it is 23,000 crores. You can say that development of Sikkim has increased by 5000%. In 25 years of governance the life expectancy has increased by 11 years. Our aim is to make sure every Sikkimese lives at least 100 years. Sikkim is the first state to give one job per family.”

Speaking on the Limboo-Tamang seat reservation issue he said, “The rights of the Limboo-Tamang communities have been threatened by the opposition SKM party. For political leverage they are abusing the rights of the people. We stand behind our formula of reservation – 2 SC seats, 12 BL seats, 5 Limboo-Tamang seats and 20 unreserved. But the opposition’s formula is five seats from the existing 32 seats. This is undemocratic and robs 60% of the population of Sikkim, the Nepalis, of their rights.”

Talking about the importance of investing in education and his struggles of growing up in a working-class family he stated that, “This is why we have worked hard on our education sector and made college education free for all. Education is our number 1 priority. 25 years ago, 50% dropped out of primary school and not even 1% went to college. Whose children dropped out? It was the children of the poor. We are a government that fulfils basic minimum needs and treats all equally as one”. Going forward “the party will also bring the LGBTQ community into the fold of society”, promised Chamling.

The CM also mentioned one valuable suggestion that he received from a first-time voter during the #MyFirstVote4Chamling campaign who said that “You have given one family one job. Now you must give one family one skill”. The CM thanked him for his suggestion and welcomed more ideas from the youth.

“In 25 years of SDF government, no one has died in the name of religion”, said Pawan Chamling attributing this to Sikkim’s secular nature and added that “We should not politicise religion; we should humanise it.”

He also stated that the party has not and will not engage in dynastic politics stating that no one from his family, as long as he remains active in politics, will be made MP or MLA. This is against the larger trend around in India where dynastic politics are common.

“It is not important for me to become CM again, I have already been elected five times consecutively. But this time, I am fighting elections to ensure the safety of the Sikkimese people’s future”, he said on the upcoming Assembly elections. He further added, “This time, we must win not only from every constituency but from every single booth.”