Sikkim state assembly elections, 2009
Encyclopedia
The Sikkim Legislative Assembly election of 2009 took place in April 2009, concurrently with the Indian general election, 2009
. The elections were held in the state for all 32 Assembly seats in the third phase on 2009-04-30. The results were declared on 2009-05-16. The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF)
further strengthened their majority in the Sikkim Assembly by winning all the seats. Incumbent Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling
's Government returned for an unprecedented fourth consecutive term having won previous elections in 1994, 1999 & 2004.
was the only other party to win any seats, winning the Sangha
seat that is reserved for the monks & nuns of Sikkim's many monasteries. P.K. Chamling led SDF had already formed the previous two Governments in Sikkim having first formed the Government after the 1994 election, when they won 19 seats within a year of the party being formed), and then again after the 1999 election, when they increased their tally to 24 seats. Chamling's third term began on 2004-05-21 when he & his 11 ministers were sworn in by the then Governor of Sikkim V. Rama Rao
.
announced on 2009-03-02 that the elections to the Sikkim Assembly would be held at the same time as the general election
. Sikkim voted in the third phase of the 5-phase national election.
Though SDF had provided external support to Manmohan Singh
's Congress-led UPA
Government at the Centre since 2004, the SDF and Congress were the main political opponents in Sikkim. Ironically, the Congress was led in the state by Nar Bahadur Bhandari
, mentor & former colleague of Chamling.
at the Gangtok Raj Bhawan on 2009-05-20. This Government included Neeru Sewa and Tilu Gurung who became the first ever women Cabinet ministers in Sikkim.
Indian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
. The elections were held in the state for all 32 Assembly seats in the third phase on 2009-04-30. The results were declared on 2009-05-16. The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF)
Sikkim Democratic Front
Sikkim Democratic Front is a political party in the Indian state of Sikkim. The party was founded by Pawan Kumar Chamling in 1993. It has ruled the state since 1994 with Pawan Kumar Chamling as the chief minister. The party consolidated its position sweeping the 1999 and 2004 state elections. It...
further strengthened their majority in the Sikkim Assembly by winning all the seats. Incumbent Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling
Pawan Kumar Chamling
Pawan Kumar Chamling is the fifth chief minister of the Indian state of Sikkim. Chamling is the founder president of the Sikkim Democratic Front party, which has governed Sikkim for four successive terms since 1994, winning the 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009 state assembly elections.-Personal...
's Government returned for an unprecedented fourth consecutive term having won previous elections in 1994, 1999 & 2004.
Previous Assembly
In the 2004 Sikkim Assembly election, the SDF almost had a clean-sweep winning 31 of the 32 seats in the state. CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
was the only other party to win any seats, winning the Sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
seat that is reserved for the monks & nuns of Sikkim's many monasteries. P.K. Chamling led SDF had already formed the previous two Governments in Sikkim having first formed the Government after the 1994 election, when they won 19 seats within a year of the party being formed), and then again after the 1999 election, when they increased their tally to 24 seats. Chamling's third term began on 2004-05-21 when he & his 11 ministers were sworn in by the then Governor of Sikkim V. Rama Rao
V. Rama Rao
V Rama Rao was the Governor of the Indian state of Sikkim from October 25, 2002 to October 25, 2007. He was born near Machilipatnam in Krishna District in Andhra Pradesh. He was a member of the Bharatiya Janta Party. His academic qualifications include the B.A and LLB...
.
Background
With the tenure of the Sikkim Assembly scheduled to expire on 2009-05-23, the Election Commission of IndiaElection Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India...
announced on 2009-03-02 that the elections to the Sikkim Assembly would be held at the same time as the general election
Indian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
. Sikkim voted in the third phase of the 5-phase national election.
Though SDF had provided external support to Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
's Congress-led UPA
United Progressive Alliance
The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha...
Government at the Centre since 2004, the SDF and Congress were the main political opponents in Sikkim. Ironically, the Congress was led in the state by Nar Bahadur Bhandari
Nar Bahadur Bhandari
Nar Bahadur Bhandari is a former chief minister of the state of Sikkim in India who governed the state from 1979 to 1994. He was the founder leader of Sikkim Sangram Parishad party.-Personal life:...
, mentor & former colleague of Chamling.
Schedule of election
| Poll Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Announcement & Issue of Press Note | Monday, 02 Mar 2009 |
| Issue of Notification | Thursday, 02 Apr 2009 |
| Last Date for filing Nominations | Thursday, 09 Apr 2009 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | Friday, 10 Apr 2009 |
| Last date for withdrawal of Candidature | Monday, 13 Apr 2009 |
| Date of Poll | Thursday, 30 Apr 2009 |
| Counting of Votes on | Saturday, 16 May 2009 |
| Date of election being completed | Saturday, 23 May 2009 |
| Constituencies Polling on this day | 32 |
| Source: Election Commission of India Election Commission of India The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India... |
|
Government formation
The SDF went from strength to strength and this time won even the single seat that had eluded them in 2004. With a clean sweep of all 32 seats in the state, Chamling was sworn in for his fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister by Governor B.P. SinghBalmiki Prasad Singh
Balmiki Prasad Singh is the present governor of Sikkim, India. He is a distinguished scholar, thinker and public servant. He was born on January 1, 1942 in Begusarai, Bihar.-Education:...
at the Gangtok Raj Bhawan on 2009-05-20. This Government included Neeru Sewa and Tilu Gurung who became the first ever women Cabinet ministers in Sikkim.
Number of candidates
| Party Type | Code | Party Name | Number of candidates |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Parties | BJP | Bharatiya Janata Party Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament... |
11 | 57 |
| CPM | Communist Party of India (Marxist) Communist Party of India (Marxist) The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of... |
3 | ||
| INC | Indian National Congress Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian... |
32 | ||
| NCP | Nationalist Congress Party Nationalist Congress Party The Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:... |
11 | ||
| State Parties | SDF | Sikkim Democratic Front Sikkim Democratic Front Sikkim Democratic Front is a political party in the Indian state of Sikkim. The party was founded by Pawan Kumar Chamling in 1993. It has ruled the state since 1994 with Pawan Kumar Chamling as the chief minister. The party consolidated its position sweeping the 1999 and 2004 state elections. It... |
32 | 32 |
| Unrecognised or Unregistered Parties |
SGPP | Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party | 27 | 53 |
| SHRP | Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad | 20 | ||
| SJEP | Sikkim Jan-Ekta Party | 6 | ||
| Independents | n/a | Independents | 25 | 25 |
| Total: | 167 | |||
| Source: Election Commission of India Election Commission of India The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India... |
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See also
- State Assembly elections in India, 2009State Assembly elections in India, 2009Multiple States of India had elections for their legislative assemblies in 2009.The tenure of the Legislative Assemblies of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim were due to expire on 30 May, 29 June and 23 May 2009 respectively. Keeping this in mind, the Election Commission of India ...
- Indian general election in Sikkim, 2009Indian general election in Sikkim, 2009The Indian general election, 2009 in Sikkim, occurred for 1 seat in the state....
- Assembly election results of SikkimAssembly election results of SikkimLegislative Assembly election results of SikkimThe total number of seats in the assembly is 32, including one seat reserved for the Sangha. Results list national parties first, state parties second and unrecognized parties last. Results are presented as by the Election Commission of India...