The Hindu : Q & A: Pawan Kumar Chamling

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Saturday, Mar 20, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

Q & A: Pawan Kumar Chamling

'Democracy is yet to mature in Sikkim'

There is an air of quiet self-confidence about the Sikkim Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, as he braces for the seventh Assembly elections scheduled for May 10. Setting his sights on a third term in office, he promises to usher "landmark developments" into this tiny Himalayan State. In contrast to the "feel good" slogan of his NDA partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the campaign trail of his Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] echoes a "feel proud factor" — a coinage very much his own. In this interview with Marcus Dam, Mr. Chamling speaks about the achievements and disappointments of his 10 years in office. Excerpts:

What is the single largest area of dissatisfaction in your two terms as Chief Minister?

I regret not having found a good political team to work with. This has prompted me to bring in new faces in at least 30 per cent of the seats to be contested. Democracy is yet to mature in Sikkim, which has a 332-year past of monarchy rule under the Chogyal. Whichever party they may belong to, our elected representatives lack the culture to make Sikkim a vibrant democracy that I am working for. My attempts are directed at institutionalising democracy in a State with a history of autocratic rule that, sadly, did not end with its merger with India in May 1975.

Yet cult politics seems to continue to dominate the collective psyche. The past elections have been a clash of personalities of the two major players — you and your predecessor and principal adversary, Nar Bahadur Bhandari. Electoral choices appear to be determined by this rather than differing political agendas as reflected in party manifestoes.

True. This is because democracy is still in its infancy here, nascent and far from matured. We lack a strong civil society and one-man rule has been the order of the times — ever since Sikkim was a kingdom. This public perception needs to be changed. We talk of economic reforms but reforms are meaningless without political reforms. Politics should be qualitative.

That observation notwithstanding, your detractors charge you with being autocratic just as you did with your predecessor.

I am aware of this charge. I have been wanting more people with leadership qualities in my party and far from being the dictatorial sort. Let there be a hundred Chamlings. What I have been aiming to project is my ideology and not my ego. If [the] people accept a better leader than me I will the happiest man.

You appear confident about a third successive mandate. Where does this confidence come from?

My Government's programmes that have aimed at converting Sikkim from a consumer State into a productive one have led to us taking up a series of development projects for which the people are willing to provide us another term. Our efforts to make all villages in the State economically sustainable and also strengthen the panchayats by devolving to them more powers have been appreciated. We have augmented power supply and generation will increase seven-fold from the present 100 mw once the Teesta hydel project is commissioned. We have already spent nearly Rs. 200 crores on the construction of the State's first airport at Pakyong, which should be ready within three years. Business opportunities are opening up with the private sector playing a more active role. The re-opening of the Nathu La pass this summer should boost economic opportunities. Our emphasis has been on eco-friendly tourism. Our policies have been fashioned on a paradigm shift from nurturing the more traditional professions to developing the service sector.

The reasons for your allegiance to the NDA have often been questioned. Your proximity with the Government at the Centre is said to have made it possible for you to come up with such an impressive list of claims. Has there been an ideological compromise of sorts? What will your stance be if there is a change at the Centre after the elections?

Sikkim's interest is my first priority whatever the make-up at the Centre. There can be no compromise on that. And if you are asking me whether I will remain with the NDA or join forces with a Congress-led coalition in the future my answer is simple: I am with my State and my country.

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