Sikkim: Why BJP wants to part ways with SKM after piggyback riding on it

The ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) is the latest regional ally of the BJP in the northeast to find itself being “undercut” by the saffron party ahead of the assembly elections.

The devastation caused by the outburst of South Lhonak glacial lake in north Sikkim last month, the mysterious death of a student leader earlier this year and an alleged Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) scam are the three pressing issues the BJP is exploiting against its alliance partner.

The party has decided to launch a mass agitation on these issues in a bid to chart its political course in the state, independent of any regional ally, according to sources within the state BJP.

The BJP’s 12 MLAs are extending outside support to the Prem Singh Tamang-led SKM government. The SKM is a constituent of the BJP-led NDA.

The BJP of late indicated its discontentment over the partnership and donned the role of an aggressive opposition even though a section of the party is against the change of tune.

Perception battle

The BJP will not be able to win a single seat or get even 500 votes if it contests the poll without a tie-up with the SKM, Gangtok’s BJP MLA T Lepcha recently opined amid growing desire within the party to go alone in the hustings.

Lepcha’s view probably stemmed from the perception gaining ground in the state that the BJP is an anti-Sikkimese party. This comes following allegations that the BJP-led government at the Centre has diluted constitutional provisions protecting the indigenous Sikkimese people.

Senior BJP leader DB Chauhan quit as the party’s Sikkim unit president at the fag end of last year, accusing the party high command of apathy and ignoring the interest of the party in the state.

To change this perception, the BJP in February this year appointed DR Thapa as the new party chief in the Himalayan state. Many in the party believe Thapa was picked for the top job because he was at the forefront of the agitation against a Supreme Court order terming the state’s Nepali Sikkimese population as people of foreign origin.

Moreover, the Upper Burtuk MLA is also a vocal voice against the state government and his appointment was an indication that the BJP would break off with the SKM ahead of assembly polls due early next year. Since he took over the mantle, the BJP has never missed an opportunity to show the Tamang government in a bad light.

Targeting SKM govt

The party particularly stepped up its tirade after last month’s devastating flood. Thapa blamed the state government for the calamity and demanded an investigation. He said the state government was not sure if the flash flood was triggered by a cloud burst or south Lhonak glacial lake outburst. It was also not clear at what time the first information was received on the ill-fated night, he added.

According to the government’s statistics, 42 persons including army personnel died and more than 70 went missing in the flash flood that swept the state on the intervening night of October 3 and 4. “Was it a calamity or a leadership failure,” he asked recently.

The BJP also demanded separate CBI probes into the mysterious death of Padam Gurung and the MCX scam wherein traders based in other states have allegedly amassed crores of rupees, taking advantage of the tax exemption granted to the people of Sikkim by misusing personal data of Sikkimese people.

The party further questioned the fairness of the state police in investigating Gurung’s death. The student leader, who was the president of the Government College in Namchi, was found dead in a drain near a pub in Namchi’s Kazitar area. His family members suspect foul play.

Preparing ground

The BJP is raising its pitch on these issues to prepare ground for it to contest all 32 seats, mirroring the strategy it had adopted in several other northeastern states where the saffron party is trying to grow by piggyback riding on regional parties.

Ahead of the Meghalaya elections in February this year, the BJP had launched all-out attacks against its alliance partner in the state, the National People’s Party led by Conrad Sangma. It had dumped the NPP ahead of the 2022 Manipur assembly elections too.

Similarly, in Mizoram, the BJP had set its eye on making inroads in the state at the expense of its alliance partner the Mizo National Front (MNF) since last year. It even managed to poach two senior MNF leaders ahead of assembly elections earlier this month.

The BJP’s strategy did not work in Meghalaya and it is likely to backfire even in Mizoram. Now it remains to be seen as to how it pans out in Sikkim.

The BJP currently has 12 MLAs in the 32-member Sikkim assembly. Ten of its legislators joined the party, switching from the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), in 2019. Two others won in by-elections with the support of SKM.