Municipal Elections 2026 Has SKM upheld the spirit of the alliance, or has it come under pressure from the BJP?

It is often said that politics is a game of uncertainty. One never knows at what moment or turn new equations will emerge. Similarly, regarding the Sikkim Municipal Elections 2026, a new political equation has taken shape at the last moment. Although the Citizen Action Party Sikkim and the Sikkim Democratic Front boycotted the elections citing various reasons, there was initially a situation where the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were set to contest against each other in some wards. However, at the last moment, the situation took a dramatic turn. On the very first day of nomination withdrawals yesterday, some SKM candidates unexpectedly withdrew their candidacies. As a result, at least two wards have, for now, been won uncontested by BJP candidates. In another ward, a member of the same party has entered the fray as an independent candidate, making the situation somewhat unclear. According to special sources, SKM may still leave a few more wards for the BJP. Notably, it was not only SKM candidates who withdrew— in one ward of the Gangtok Municipal Corporation, a BJP candidate also withdrew nomination, making the SKM candidate elected unopposed in that ward. Sources told Sikkim News that, in fact, there had been an understanding between the ruling SKM and BJP to leave 6 out of the total 63 wards for the BJP in the municipal elections. As per the agreement, BJP fielded candidates in exactly six wards. However, after the cancellation of BJP candidate Bhupal Baraily’s membership in Mandi Ward of Rangpo Nagar Panchayat, the number dropped to five. On the other hand, in Tadong Ward, SKM candidate Sonam Pincho Bhutia refused to withdraw his nomination, forcing BJP candidate Pempa Dorjee Lepcha to step back. Thus, BJP has already lost two opportunities. According to sources, the next sacrifice may come from SKM candidate Ashok Pradhan in Danda Bazaar Ward of Soreng Nagar Panchayat, where BJP’s Naren Subba is contesting. However, it is not yet confirmed whether Pradhan will withdraw. Meanwhile, to fulfill its promise of ensuring six councillors for BJP, the ruling SKM is reportedly planning to make one of its already unopposed candidates in Gangtok Municipal Corporation step down and later allow BJP to secure that seat through a by-election. Among the SKM candidates who withdrew their nominations following party directives are Pem Norbu Bhutia from Upper Ghurpisey Ward of Namchi Municipal Council and Yad Kumari Kami from Pipley Dara Ward of Singtam Nagar Panchayat. Their withdrawals made BJP candidates Sange Bhutia and Rajani Singh Century elected unopposed, respectively. Similarly, SKM candidate Abhishek Sharma from DPH Ward of Gangtok Municipal Corporation also withdrew his nomination. However, this ward has taken an interesting twist. BJP member and incumbent councillor Bindya Century has filed her nomination as an independent candidate, creating a situation where a contest could occur among BJP supporters themselves. Sources say BJP is now trying to persuade her to withdraw to avoid such a scenario. It is noteworthy that this is not the first time SKM, which is an ally of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, has made way for BJP during elections in the state. Earlier, in the 2019 Assembly by-elections, SKM left two seats—Gangtok and Martam-Rumtek—for BJP. Similarly, in the officially non-party municipal elections of 2021, SKM had kept some seats open for BJP-supported candidates. As a result, Bindya Century, now the incumbent councillor of DPH Ward, had been elected at that time. The new political arrangement in this municipal election has triggered varied reactions on social media. Some view it as SKM fulfilling the spirit of the alliance, while others believe SKM has bowed down under pressure from the BJP at the Centre. It is important to note that just two years ago, during the Assembly elections, there was no such alliance or seat-sharing arrangement between SKM and BJP. On the other hand, neither SKM nor the Sikkim BJP unit has issued any official statement on the matter so far. However, party spokesperson Jacob Khaling, expressing his personal views on social media, praised the SKM candidates for showing loyalty to the party by withdrawing their nominations. Similarly, a senior leader of the Sikkim BJP, speaking to Sikkim News on condition of anonymity, said that the party views SKM’s move as an act of honoring the alliance and has welcomed it. He also expressed hope that this new political equation in the municipal elections could pave the way for a stronger SKM-BJP alliance in the future.