General elections were held in Sikkim in May 1953.Hamlet Bareh (2001) Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim Mittal Publications, p17 The Sikkim National Party and the Sikkim State Congress both won six seats each in the State Council. Voter turnout was less than 30%.
Electoral system The State Council was established in 1953 by the Chogyal.Bareh, p16 It had 18 members, of which 12 were elected and six (including the President) appointed by the Chogyal. Of the 12 elected members, six were for the Nepali community and six for the Lepcha and the Bhutia communities.
Candidates for election to the Council had to be at least 30 years old, whilst the voting age was set at 21. Around 50,000 voters registered for the election.
Results
Constituency-wise #ConstituencyReservationNameParty1North-Central Bhutia-LepchaSonam Tshering Lepcha Sikkim National Party2Martam Topden3Sikkimese NepaliKhus Narain PradhanSikkim State Congress4Gangtok Bhutia-LepchaChodup Lepcha Sikkim National Party5Netuk Bhutia6Sikkimese NepaliAdhiklal PradhanSikkim State Congress7NamchiBhutia-LepchaKunzang RapgaySikkim National Party8 Sikkimese NepaliKashi Raj Pradhan Sikkim State Congress9Jai Narayan Subba10PemayangtseBhutia-LepchaSonam WangchukSikkim National Party11 Sikkimese NepaliDhan Bahadur Gurung Sikkim State Congress12Nahakul PradhanSource: Sikkim Darbar Gazette
Appointed members 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.
Executive Council 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.
NameResponsibilitiesJohn S. LalPresident of the Executive CouncilKashiraj PradhanPublic Works, Excise, Education, and TransportSonam TseringBazars, Forests, Health, and Press & publicitySource: Proclamations from the Chogyal and the Dewan
References