1953 Sikkimese general election
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12 of the 18 seats in the State Council | ||||||||||
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General elections were held in Sikkim in May 1953.[2] The Sikkim National Party and the Sikkim State Congress both won six seats.[2] Voter turnout was less than 30%.[2]
Electoral system[edit]
The State Council was established in 1953 by the Chogyal.[3] It 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 for the Nepali community and six for the Lepcha and the Bhutia communities.[3]
Candidates for election to the Council had to be at least 30 years old, whilst the voting age was set at 21.[2] Around 50,000 voters registered for the election.[2]
Results[edit]
| Party | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhutia-Lepcha | Nepali | Total | ||||
| Sikkim National Party | 6 | 0 | 6 | |||
| Sikkim State Congress | 0 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Appointed members | – | – | 6 | |||
| Total | 6 | 6 | 18 | |||
| Source: Hamlet Bareh | ||||||
Constituency-wise[edit]
| # | Constituency | Reservation | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North-Central | Bhutia-Lepcha | Sonam Tshering Lepcha | Sikkim National Party | |
| 2 | Martam Topden | ||||
| 3 | Sikkimese Nepali | Khus Narain Pradhan | Sikkim State Congress | ||
| 4 | Gangtok | Bhutia-Lepcha | Chodup Lepcha | Sikkim National Party | |
| 5 | Netuk Bhutia | ||||
| 6 | Sikkimese Nepali | Adhiklal Pradhan | Sikkim State Congress | ||
| 7 | Namchi | Bhutia-Lepcha | Kunzang Rapgay | Sikkim National Party | |
| 8 | Sikkimese Nepali | Kashi Raj Pradhan | Sikkim State Congress | ||
| 9 | Jai Narayan Subba | ||||
| 10 | Pemayangtse | Bhutia-Lepcha | Sonam Wangchuk | Sikkim National Party | |
| 11 | Sikkimese Nepali | Dhan Bahadur Gurung | Sikkim State Congress | ||
| 12 | Nakhul Pradhan | ||||
| Source: Sikkim Darbar Gazette[4][5] | |||||
Appointed members[edit]
In addition to the elected members, five members were appointed to the Sikkim State Council by the Chogyal; John S. Lal (President of the Council and Dewan of Sikkim), Rai Bahadur Densapa, Tekbir Khati, Palda Lama and Hon Lt Prem Bahadur Basnet.[4][5]
Executive Council[edit]
Following the elections, an Executive Council was appointed, which consisted of the President of the Council, John S. Lal and two of the elected members, Sonam Tsering and Kashiraj Pradhan.
| Name | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| John S. Lal | President of the Executive Council |
| Kashiraj Pradhan | Public Works, Excise, Education, and Transport |
| Sonam Tsering | Bazars, Forests, Health, and Press & publicity |
| Source: Proclamations from the Chogyal and the Dewan[6] | |
References[edit]
- ^ "Election to Sikkim State Council". The Indian Express. 2 June 1953. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
...the election which concluded on 23 May after 55 days of polling.
- ^ a b c d e Hamlet Bareh (2001) Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim Mittal Publications, p17
- ^ a b c Bareh, p16
- ^ a b "Results of elections - 1953". Sikkim Darbar Gazette. 2 (12). 12 May 1953.
- ^ a b Pem Choden Tenzing (July 2019). Monarchy to Democracy Understanding Political Development in Sikkim, 1970-1994 (Thesis). p. 147. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ Tashi Namgyal (4 August 1953). "State Council and Executive Council Proclamation - Memo No. 525". pp. 25, 28. Retrieved 22 June 2021.