Yesterday, the Citizen Action Party announced that it will not contest the municipal elections, leaving everything to independent candidates. However, in a democracy, parties must understand that there is no such thing as being truly “independent,” and elections without contest do not look meaningful or interesting.
If CAP wants to earn the tag of a strong opposition, it must come to the ground, fight, and even win a small number of seats in Local Bodies. The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has already announced candidates in all urban bodies and completed nominations and started campaigning too. Even a former Gangtok mayor Neel Chettri yesterday said he does not support uncontested elections and wants competition to make them meaningful urges people to come in ground.
The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which ruled Sikkim for over 25 years, has not fielded candidates yet, nor has the Indian National Congress. The Bharatiya Janata Party appears somewhat serious to contest in all Local Bodies but has yet to complete nominations.
Win or lose, contesting elections increases the value of opposition in a democracy. Combined with low voter turnout, this situation paints a grim picture for the future of local democracy.
Perhaps the importance of municipal politics is being overlooked instead of calling party based or unconstitutional. Local governments directly impact daily life—roads, recreation, water supply, and emergency services. Even small elections matter. While independents give space to common citizens, political parties should promote young leaders and encourage them to contest.
Municipal elections can be seen as a semifinal for the 2029 state elections. Sikkim, as a democracy, functions through two tiers— state, and local self-government. If opposition parties aspire to govern the state, they must also participate in grassroots democracy if not they should forget about 2029 General Elections. Even in West Bengal with strong ruling, opposition party also stand and contest municipality elections.
Today in press conference SDF said that they has even boycotted the elections, calling them unconstitutional after 25 year of Ruling. However, local governance has constitutional status under the 74th Amendment Act of 1992.
Perhaps opposition lack candidates, or perhaps they lack confidence. Either way, avoiding elections weakens democracy. Elections come once every five years, and true citizenship is exercised only when people participate and contest.
