Ahead of the 14th Foundation Day of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), several senior leaders of the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) joined the ruling party on Sunday, February 1, strengthening Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s political standing in the state.
Former Sikkim ministers Sonam Gyatso Lepcha and Tshering Wangdi Lepcha, along with former MLAs Ugen Nedup Bhutia and Bek Bahadur Rai, formally switched allegiance to the SKM. Former SDF spokesperson Rikzing Norbu Dorjee Bhutia was also among the prominent leaders who joined the ruling party.
The leaders were welcomed by SKM president and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang at his official residence. Their formal induction will take place during the SKM’s 14th Foundation Day celebrations on February 4.
Welcoming the new members, Tamang said their extensive experience in public service and legislative affairs would strengthen the party and support the government’s ongoing initiatives. In a social media post, the chief minister expressed confidence that their inclusion would contribute positively to the state’s development and public welfare.
“I look forward to working closely with them for the state’s growth and the well-being of the people,” Tamang said.
He described the leaders’ decision to join the SKM as an endorsement of the party’s ideology, leadership and commitment to inclusive governance.
The development comes amid a decline in the SDF’s political fortunes. The party, which ruled Sikkim for more than two decades, failed to secure a single seat in the 32-member Sikkim Legislative Assembly in the 2024 elections. SKM leaders have claimed that thousands of SDF supporters are expected to join the ruling party during the foundation day celebrations, indicating a further weakening of the opposition’s base in the state.
