WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR Jigme N. Kazi People power must win over money power for democracy to triumph in Sikkim Gangtok, Sept 12: It took nearly three years to merge the NB Bhandari-led Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) with the Congress party in 2001-2003. It has taken less than three months to forge the SKM-BJP alliance in Sikkim this year. Had the leaders of the alliance taken up the matter more seriously the opposition would have been in a better position today. However, they are to be applauded and congratulated for their efforts and achievements. BJP Sikkim unit President Palden Wangchuk Khangsarpa and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) President PS Golay were able to stitch an alliance and field Bikash Basnet, formerly with the SKM, as BJP candidate for the by-polls of Rangang-Yangang Assembly constituency. Irrespective of the by-poll results the new development in itself is a big achievement for Sikkim. Aided by their able lieutenants Khangsarpa and Golay are expected to take the alliance to greater heights as this is the need of the hour. By choosing Golay over Chief Minister Pawan Chamling the BJP has sent the right message to the people of Sikkim and India as well. For many national parties and politicians Sikkim is a testing ground where most of them have failed miserably. The BJP has taken the right step and at the right time. The reason why SSP-Cong merger could not take off fast as planned was because Congress leaders in the State as well as at the Centre were ‘managed’ and influenced by money-power (My book The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland gives a detailed account on this issue). This has not happened with the BJP this time and it is a good sign that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah are serious about their campaign on corruption-free India. However, when the going gets tough the tough gets going and Pawan Chamling will do all he can to have his way. He may already be working overtime to get in touch with the BJP-SKM camp and BJP’s central leadership through the backdoor to ensure that competent and committed persons do not play a vital role in rejuvenating the BJP in Sikkim. Already things are moving too slow in making things difficult for the present dispensation. This is a warning which must be heeded at the earliest otherwise all tall claims of the BJP-SKM alliance will come to naught. (Pix: PS Golay and Palden Wangchuk Khangsarpa)
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 09:58:28 +0000
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