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70 p.c. turnout in Sikkim

By Marcus Dam

GANGTOK, MAY 10. Despite inclement weather, voters turned out in large numbers today to vote in 28 out of the 32 Assembly constituencies and the single Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim. Voting was largely peaceful and the turnout was pegged at more than 70 per cent.

Four Assembly seats were uncontested and have gone to the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF). The Chief Minister and SDF leader, Pawan Kumar Chamling, has been declared elected from Damthang constituency in the South District.

Supporters of the SDF and the Congress were involved in stone throwing in Tikpur area of Daramdin constituency in the West District, the Chief Electoral Officer, T.T. Dorjee, said. Seven persons were arrested. "But for this incident, the elections were peaceful and most candidates were satisfied with the poll arrangements."

In the morning, Mr. Chamling left from his official Mintogang residence in Gangtok for his hometown, Namchi, to cast his vote. The Congress leader and former Chief Minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, voted in Tadong in the Rumtek Assembly segment in the afternoon after a quick round of the Central Pandim constituency from where he is contesting.

There was an altercation between the supporters of rival parties in the area last night in which one person was seriously injured; 12 persons were arrested in this connection.

Mr. Bhandari is also contesting from the Gangtok Assembly constituency.

Expressing confidence that the SDF would be returned to power for the third time, Mr. Chamling said his party was aiming to win all the seats. He added that his new Cabinet would not have more than 12 Ministers.

Mr. Bhandari, who was Chief Minister for three terms, was also confident of returning to power after a decade. The Congress spokesperson, Jigme N. Kazi, said, "We are confident of forming the government. The vote today has gone in our favour."

Polling was brisk since morning even though "the pace was slow in certain booths because of the unfamiliarity of voters with electronic voting machines, being used for the first time in the State," Mr. Dorjee said. The drizzle notwithstanding, people stood in serpentine queues outside the booths, at some places even before the scheduled start of polling. Those voting for the first time were particularly enthusiastic.

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