The Sikkim Legislative Assembly election of 2009 took place in April 2009, concurrently with the 2009 Indian general election. The elections were held in the state for all 32 legislative assembly seats along with the third phase of 2009 Indian general elections on 30 April 2009. The results were declared on 5 May 2009. The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) further strengthened their majority in the Sikkim Assembly by winning all the seats. Incumbent Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's Government returned for an unprecedented fourth consecutive term having won previous elections in 1994, 1999, and 2004.

Previous Assembly In the 2004 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, the SDF almost had a clean-sweep winning 31 of the 32 seats in the state. Congress was the only other party to win any seats, winning the Sangha seat that is reserved for the monks and nuns of Sikkim's many monasteries. The Chamling-led SDF had already formed the previous two Governments in Sikkim having first formed the Government after the 1994 election, when they won 19 seats within a year of the party being formed), and then again after the 1999 election, when they increased their tally to 24 seats. Chamling's third term began on May 21, 2004, when he and his 11 cabinate ministers were sworn in by the then Governor of Sikkim V. Rama Rao.

Background With the tenure of the Sikkim Assembly scheduled to expire on 23 May 23, 2009, the Election Commission of India announced on 2 March 2009, that the elections to the Sikkim Assembly would be held at the same time as the general election. Sikkim voted in the third phase of the 5-phase national election.

Though SDF had provided external support to Manmohan Singh's Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre since 2004, the SDF and Congress were the main political opponents in Sikkim. Ironically, the Congress was led in the state by Nar Bahadur Bhandari, mentor and former colleague of Chamling.

In this election UDF was formed by coalition of BJP, INC and few other parties, which was thrown into disarray with its constituents appearing to go separate.

Schedule of election Poll Event Dates Announcement & Issue of Press Note Monday, 02 Mar 2009 Issue of Notification Thursday, 02 Apr 2009 Last Date for filing Nominations Thursday, 09 Apr 2009 Scrutiny of Nominations Friday, 10 Apr 2009 Last date for withdrawal of Candidature Monday, 13 Apr 2009 Date of Poll Thursday, 30 Apr 2009 Counting of Votes on Saturday, 16 May 2009 Date of election being completed Saturday, 23 May 2009 Constituencies Polling on this day 32 Source: Election Commission of India

Parties Contested Party Type Code Party name Number ofcandidates Total National Parties BJP Bharatiya Janata Party 11 57 CPM Communist Party of India (Marxist) 3 INC Indian National Congress 32 NCP Nationalist Congress Party 11 State Parties SDF Sikkim Democratic Front 32 32 Unrecognised or Unregistered Parties SGPP Sikkim Gorkha Prajatantrik Party 27 53 SHRP Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad 20 SJEP Sikkim Jan-Ekta Party 6 Independents n/a Independents 25 25 Total: 167 Source: Election Commission of India

Results The SDF went from strength to strength and this time won even the single seat that had eluded them in 2004. With a clean sweep of all 32 seats in the state, Chamling was sworn in for his fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister by Governor B.P. Singh at the Gangtok Raj Bhawan on May 20, 2009. This Government included Neeru Sewa and Tilu Gurung who became the first ever women Cabinet ministers in Sikkim.

Results by constituency Winner, runner-up, voter turnout, and victory margin in every constituencyAssembly ConstituencyTurnout WinnerRunner UpMargin #k Names% Candidate Party Votes% Candidate Party Votes%1Yoksam–Tashiding86.94%Dawcho Lepcha5,90971.75%Aden Tshering Lepcha1,66620.23%4,2432Yangthang85.99%Prem Lall Subba5,77073.19%Depan Hang Limbu1,54519.6%4,2253Maneybong–Dentam86.75%Chandra Maya Subba6,25271.99%Laxuman Gurung1,89921.87%4,3534Gyalshing–Barnyak84.32%Man Bahadur Dahal4,96768.13%Youa Raj Rai1,55721.36%3,4105Rinchenpong86.96%Dawa Norbu Takarpa6,43872.69%Pema Kinzang Bhutia2,14524.22%4,2936Daramdin84.83%Tenzi Sherpa6,50768.97%Pem Nuri Sherpa1,80719.15%4,7007Soreng–Chakung84.62%Ram Bahadur Subba6,49766.5%Nar Bahadur Bhandari2,37824.34%4,1198Salghari–Zoom84.62%Madan Cintury4,43765.14%Janga Bir Darnal2,13931.4%2,2989Barfung85.78%Sonam Gyatso Bhutia6,04970.35%Lobzang Bhutia2,19725.55%3,85210Poklok–Kamrang86.32%Pawan Kumar Chamling7,37980.68%Purna Kumari Rai1,42315.56%5,95611Namchi–Singhithang76.84%Pawan Kumar Chamling5,65380.97%Khush Bahadur Rai1,00914.45%4,64412Melli83.83%Tulshi Devi Rai6,30767.48%Dil Kri. Chhetri2,45426.25%3,85313Namthang–Rateypani82.7%Tilu Gurung5,98865.76%Suk Bahadur Tamang2,77730.5%3,21114Temi–Namphing84.96%Bedu Singh Panth4,57752.14%Lalit Sharma2,83732.32%1,74015Rangang–Yangang85.44%Chandra Bdr Karki5,55868.24%Avinash Yakha2,36128.99%3,19716Tumin–Lingee84.9%Ugyen Tshering Gyatso Bhutia5,02655.33%Phuchung Bhutia3,70240.75%1,32417Khamdong–Singtam84.24%Am Prasad Sharma4,29856.37%Nar Bahadur Bhandari3,03239.76%1,26618West Pendam82.94%Neeru Sewa4,15153.53%Jagdish Cintury3,08839.82%1,06319Rhenock84.97%Bhim Prasad Dhungel5,61153.72%Kedar Nath Sharma4,16839.9%1,44320Chujachen83.92%Puran Kumar Gurung8,07774.35%Harka Raj Gurung2,11419.46%5,96321Gnathang–Machong85.78%L.M. Lepcha4,07758.59%Chhopel Dzongpo Bhutia1,67724.1%2,40022Namchaybong86.49%Bek Bahadur Rai5,87763.37%Em Prasad Sharma2,95431.85%2,92323Shyari81.51%Karma Tempo Namgyal Gyaltsen5,03463.15%Kunga Nima Lepcha2,75334.54%2,28124Martam–Rumtek85.29%Menlom Lepcha6,39264.04%Rinzing Namgyal3,02730.33%3,36525Upper Tadong78.07%Dil Bahadur Thapa3,14856.%Arun Kumar Basnet2,10537.45%1,04326Arithang73.65%Narendra Kumar Pradhan3,32060.95%Bharat Basnett1,86534.24%1,45527Gangtok70.38%Dorjee Namgyal Bhutia3,50661.18%Tshering Gyatso Kaleon1,92833.64%1,57828Upper Burtuk82.48%Prem Singh Tamang5,90878.63%Arun Kumar Rai1,34517.9%4,56329Kabi–Lungchok85.36%Thenlay Tshering Bhutia4,82364.46%Ugen Nedup Bhutia2,65935.54%2,16430Djongu89.79%Sonam Gyatso Lepcha4,75679.97%Norden Tshering Lepcha81913.77%3,93731Lachen–Mangan89.48%Tshering Wangdi Lepcha2,71953.3%Anil Lachenpa1,94038.03%77932Sangha64.75%Phetook Tshering Bhutia98049.49%Tshering Lama92546.72%55

See also State Assembly elections in India, 2009 Indian general election in Sikkim, 2009 Assembly election results of Sikkim

References