The chief minister of Sikkim is the head of the executive branch of the Government of Sikkim, the subnational authority of the Indian state of Sikkim. As per the Constitution of India, the governor is the state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. The chief minister has formal presidency over the Council of Ministers and governs with the confidence of a majority in the elected Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
Following elections to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. As such, the chief minister typically sits as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and leads the largest party or a coalition of parties. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits. The chief minister also serves as Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly.
Since 1974, Sikkim has had five chief ministers. The first was Kazi Lhendup Dorjee of the Indian National Congress. Pawan Kumar Chamling of the Sikkim Democratic Front was the longest serving chief minister of Sikkim from 1994 to 2019. He occupied the office longer than all his predecessors put together and currently holds the record for longest serving CM in India. The 24 year old rule of Pawan Kumar Chamling ended in the 2019 Vidhan Sabha elections where Sikkim Krantikari Morcha emerged victorious. Prem Singh Tamang became chief minister on 27 May 2019.
Oath as the state chief minister The chief minister serves five years in the office. The following is the oath of the chief minister of state: Oath of Secrecy "I, [Name], do swear in the name of God / solemnly affirm that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person or persons any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a Minister for the State of [Name of State] except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such Minister.A. Oath of Office (Karyalay ko Sapath) "Ma, [CM ko Naam], Ishwarka naam ma sapath khanchhu (or: dharma purwak pratigya garchhu) ki ma biddhi dwara sthapit Bharatko Sambidhan prati sacho shraddha ra nishtha rakhnechhu, ki ma Bharatko prabhusatta ra akhandatalaai akshunna rakhnechhu, ki ma [State ko Naam] rajyako mantri ko rupma aafno kartabyaharuko nishthapurwak ra bibechanasankalp dhangale nirbahan garnechhu ra ma bhaya ba pakshapat, anurag ba dwesh bina, sabai prakarka manisaharuko nimti Sambidhan ra kaanoon anusar nayaay garnechhu." B. Oath of Secrecy (Gopanityata ko Sapath) "Ma, [CM ko Naam], Ishwarka naam ma sapath khanchhu (or: dharma purwak pratigya garchhu) ki jo bishay [State ko Naam] rajyako mantri ko rupma mero bichardhin lyaeenechha ba malaai gyaat hunechha, tyaslaai ma kunai pani byakti ba byaktiharulaai, tyo mantri ko rupma aafno kartabyaharuko uchit nirbahan ko lagi aabsyak bhaeebahorba bahek, apratyakshya ba pratyakshya rupma sanchar ba prakat garnechhainu."
Chief Ministers Of Sikkim (1975-present) No Portrait Name Constituency Term of officeElections Party Took office Left office Time in office1Kazi Lhendup DorjeeTashiding16 May 197517 August 1979 1974 (Sikkim National Elections)Sikkim National Congress Indian National Congress – Vacant(President's rule) N/A 18 August 1979 17 October 1979 - N/A 2 Nar Bahadur Bhandari Soreong 18 October 1979 11 May 1984 1979 (1st) Sikkim Janata Parishad 3 Bhim Bahadur Gurung Jorthang-Nayabazar 11 May 1984 25 May 1984 Indian National Congress – Vacant(President's rule) N/A 25 May 1984 8 March 1985 - N/A(2)Nar Bahadur Bhandari Soreong 8 March 1985 25 November 19891985 (2nd)Sikkim Sangram Parishad 26 November 1989 17 May 19941989 (3rd) 4 Sanchaman Limboo 18 May 1994 12 December 19945Pawan Kumar ChamlingDamthang 13 December 1994 10 October 19991994 (4th)Sikkim Democratic Front 11 October 199921 May 20041999 (5th)21 May 200420 May 20092004 (6th)Poklok-Kamrang20 May 200921 May 2014 2009 (7th)Namchi-Singhithang 21 May 201427 May 20192014 (8th) 6Prem Singh Tamang Poklok-Kamrang 27 May 2019 10 June 20242019 (9th) Sikkim Krantikari Morcha Rhenock 10 June 2024 Incumbent 2024 (10th)
Statistics #Chief MinisterPartyTerm of office Longest continuous term Total duration of chief ministership 1 Pawan Kumar Chamling 24 years, 165 days 24 years, 165 days2 Nar Bahadur Bhandari /SSP 9 years, 70 days 13 years, 276 days 3 Prem Singh Tamang* * * * 4 Kazi Lhendup Dorjee /INC 4 years, 93 days 4 years, 93 days 5 Sanchaman Limboo 208 days 208 days 6 Bhim Bahadur Gurung 14 days 14 days
Timeline
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References
External links List on worldstatesmen.org