BJP Secures Sikkim's Rajya Sabha Seat with Uncontested Nomination, Hints at Alliance for Upcoming Elections

Since just one BJP contender submitted his candidacy for the state seat by Tuesday, the deadline for doing so, the party is expected to win the one and only Rajya Sabha seat held by Sikkim.

A pre-election alliance between the SKM and the BJP was also suggested by the attendance of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) MLAs, the party in power in the Himalayan state, during the nomination. Among them were chief minister P.S. Tamang and a few other state ministers.

Following the announcement of the Rajya Sabha seat's vacancy, the BJP revealed the identity of Dorjee Tsherin Lepcha, a Sikkim MLA from the Gnathang Machong constituency.

Lepcha submitted his candidacy on Tuesday to Lalit Kumar Gurung, the returning officer for the election and secretary of the Sikkim legislative Assembly secretariat.

Five-time MLA Tamang and state ministers escorted the 66-year-old lawmaker as he made his way to the secretariat to turn in his candidacy papers.

"The office of the returning officer received just one nomination (that of Lepcha) at the conclusion of the nomination filing procedure. The filing ended on Tuesday at 3 p.m., according to a news statement from the government.

The Himalayan state will also have assembly elections this year in addition to the parliamentary polls.

There is just one Lok Sabha MP seat available in Sikkim. There are 32 members in the state assembly.

According to a Sikkim-based political veteran, "it is evident that there will be an alliance between the parties for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, as the SKM has lent support to BJP in the Rajya Sabha seat."

When questioned about the matter, Lepcha sidestepped a straight response.

"I express my gratitude to the chief minister and all those in attendance at my nomination on Tuesday. "On the alliance issue, only senior party leaders have the authority to make comments," he said.