1. Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang alleges Bhaichung Bhutia’s involvement in crafting an illegal voter list.
2. Tamang clarifies the government’s non-involvement, emphasizing that only genuine citizens above 18 can vote in Sikkim.
3. The accusation adds a new twist to the political landscape in Sikkim, raising questions about electoral integrity.
Gangtok, Feb 19: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has accused former footballer and politician Bhaichung Bhutia of orchestrating the creation of an illegal voter list. Tamang emphasized that his government played no role in this alleged fabrication, reiterating that only genuine citizens above 18 years old have the right to vote in Sikkim.
Tamang criticized Bhutia’s electoral track record, citing several defeats in various constituencies, including the 2019 general elections and a recent bye-election in Gangtok. He questioned the consistency of Bhutia’s political aspirations, highlighting his failures despite his prominence.
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Despite acknowledging Bhutia’s contributions to sports infrastructure, such as the completion of the ‘Bhaichung Stadium,’ Tamang expressed disappointment over Bhutia’s opposition to initiatives like the Sikkim Premier League, aimed at nurturing young football talent in the region.
Tamang also highlighted Bhutia’s past criticisms of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and its leader, Pawan Chamling, suggesting a lack of ideological consistency in Bhutia’s political journey.
In addition to these criticisms, Tamang announced plans to create 20,000 job posts under the ‘One Family, One Job’ scheme.
He stressed the importance of job creation and economic empowerment, assuring that vacant positions in various government departments would be identified and regularized. Official details of these plans are expected by the end of February.
Tamang further affirmed the preparedness of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) for upcoming elections.
He expressed confidence in the party’s organizational readiness to face electoral challenges, even if they were to arise suddenly.
