Ahead of the assembly by-polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) gave a breather to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, better known as PS Golay, on September 29th, 2019 by reducing his disqualification period by five years. The decision came a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced an alliance with the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). The Chief Minister can now contest in the assembly by-polls to retain his post.
The Chief Minister will now contest the by-polls from Poklol Kamrang Assembly constituency, south district.
Tamang has earlier requested the Election Commission to waive the remaining period of his disqualification to retain the post. He is the founder of the SKM.
Prior to forming the party, he was a key member of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Party. Ending the 24-year rule of the Pawan Kumar Chamling led SDF, Tamang led the SKM to victory in 2019 assembly elections winning 17 out of 32 seats in the legislative assembly.
He was barred from contesting polls as he was convicted in a corruption case. Tamang was sent to jail in 2017 after he was found guilty of misappropriating government funds worth Rs 9.5 lakh in a milch cow distribution scheme.
Photo credit: @INCIndia
