1967_Sikkimese_general_election
General elections were held in Sikkim in March 1967, having been due earlier but postponed after a state of emergency was declared following the Sino-Indian War.[2] The Sikkim National Congress emerged as the largest single party, winning eight of the 24 seats.[2] Although the Sikkim National Party won only five seats, its parliamentary faction was joined by three others (one each from the Tsong (Limbu), Sangha and scheduled caste reserved seats).[2]
The State Council was established in 1953 by the Chogyal.[3] It originally had 18 members, of which 12 were elected and six (including the President) appointed by the Chogyal.[3] Of the 12 elected members, six were from the Nepali community and six from the Bhutia-Lepcha community.[3] For the 1958 elections the number of seats was increased to 20 by adding one seat for the Sangha and an additional appointed member.[3] In 1966, a further four seats had been added; one each for the Nepali and Lepcha/Bhutia communities, together with one for the Tsong (Limbu)[4] and a scheduled caste seat.[2]
Candidates for election to the Council had to be at least 30 years old, whilst the voting age was set at 21.[2]
| Party | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sikkim National Congress | 8 | New | |
| Sikkim National Party | 5 | –1 | |
| Sikkim State Congress | 2 | –5 | |
| Others | 3 | +3 | |
| Appointed members | 6 | –1 | |
| Total | 24 | +4 | |
| Source: Hamlet Bareh | |||
Constituency-wise
Appointed members
In addition to the elected members, six members were appointed to the Sikkim State Council by the Chogyal, which included R. N. Haldipur (Dewan of Sikkim and President of the Council), M. M. Rasailly, Hon. Lt. P. B. Basnet, Sonam Wangyal, I. B. Gurung, and Sangey Tempo.[5]
From the elected members, the following were appointed as members of the Executive Council, by the Chogyal:[8]
| # | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netuk Tsering | Executive Councillor |
| 2 | Bhim Bahadur Gurung | Executive Councillor |
| 3 | Nahakul Pradhan | Executive Councillor |
| 4 | Nayan Tsering | Deputy Executive Councillor |
| 5 | Nima Tsering | Deputy Executive Councillor |
| 6 | Thakur Singh Rai[9] | Deputy Executive Councillor |
- "Around the World". Reading Eagle. 16 March 1967. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
Voters go to polls today in the Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim, ...
- Hamlet Bareh (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Vol. 7:Sikkim. Mittal Publications. p. 17. ISBN 9788170997948.
- Bareh, p16
- Buddhi L. Khamdhak (1 December 2019). "The Tsongs (Limbus) Down the Ages in Sikkim" (PDF). Journal of Global Literacies, Technologies, and Emerging Pedagogies. 5 (2). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
The Sikkimi Tsongs, Limbus or Yakthungs, are the Indigenous inhabitants of Sikkim. They are also commonly called 'Tsong' by the Bhutias and Lepchas in Sikkim
- "Council Meeting Book". 21 December 1967. p. 2. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- Election Committee (17 January 1967). "List of people who filed nomination papers". p. 158. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- "Sikkim Darbar Gazette - Declaration of the Results of Election, 1967". 8 April 1967. pp. 67–68. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- "Documents regarding the election results and proceedings of Executive Council". 31 May 1967. p. 20. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- "Documents regarding the election results and proceedings of Executive Council". 9 July 1967. p. 25. Retrieved 16 June 2021.