Deep reflection into the matrix of political scenarios in Sikkim

Northeast India is passing through an interesting phase of political transition, since 2019 the waves of change are blowing strong toward a new dawn, and the people’s voices have begun echoing loud and clear, bringing hope for a better tomorrow.

In the entire Northeast, the BJP’s political influence has been on the rise, with strategic alliances and calculated moves, they have managed to surmise a significant foothold in the region’s politics and power. Today, the BJP’s presence is felt in every northeast state, be it an alliance or ruling with a strong political address.

As elections draw closer in Sikkim, debates and discussions about various policies and issues about Sikkim’s identity, unemployment, Debt, etc dominate the media and public discourse. The rise of political violence has also become a matter of grave concern for Sikkim. Terror politics seem to have taken centre stage in the present political scenario of Sikkim. Such terror & hate politics followed by political violence is creating fear, chaos, stir, and instability in Sikkimese society.

Let’s talk about the prominent regional parties in Sikkim- Sikkim Krantikari Morcha and opposition Sikkim Democratic Front have entered into tactical political alliances with the ruling BJP at the centre. They both are hoping to gain some advantage in government functioning or to gain some advantage in local or state-level elections because Regional parties since aligning with the BJP as a way to tap into its popularity and electoral machinery.

Nevertheless, at the same time, it’s too indigestible & ridiculous to understand despite having a direct or indirect alliance with BJP, why they still articulate that friendship with BJP is bad for the general public, on what ground it’s to be believed that BJP is a threat to the people of Sikkim. With such a confusing political mentality & dual-faced dispositions, these regional parties have faced criticism from their supporters for aligning with a party that may hold different ideological or policy positions.

BJP government at the centre has always been favourable to Sikkim. BJP has implemented various initiatives for the overall development of Sikkim. Some of these include infrastructure development like the promotion of tourism, strengthening of the health sector, basic amenities to the poor, and improvement in connectivity through road air, and rail networks.

But despite earning such unprecedented support from the centre, yet, Sikkim lags in many perspectives & trading in contrast, as compared to neighbouring states. Our leaders are not capable enough to voice for locals in Delhi when it comes to state Issues, our MP Indra Hang Subba was elected as MP as he promised an opportunity to reshape Sikkim’s Youth and Voice in Parliaments for LT communities. The voice & aspirations of people have started to fade when our MPs don’t talks. They have forgotten their duty & cause, dragging democracy into a fading dream. This undermines the principles of democracy and can have negative consequences for society as a whole.

The lack of action and responsibility from the MP is alarming and suggests a lack of accountability. However, it is heartening to see a neighbouring Distric’s MP taking up the cause and advocating for justice. This kind gesture shows that there are still individuals who care about us and are willing to stand up for what is right. It is also a reminder that we are all part of a larger community and that it is our responsibility to speak up when we see injustice and wrongdoing. Now, In Sikkim parties must work together to ensure that people hold their leaders accountable and demand action to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.

With the increasing crime rates in many facets & locales, the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system has become a must for strengthening security in the state of Sikkim. The ILP system enables authorities to keep track of the movement of individuals in restricted areas and to monitor potential threats. It also helps to prevent illegal immigration, smuggling, and other criminal activities that may take place within a peaceful state, but now no one talks about it.

At several crossroads, the state assembly also faced some hectic discussions on the agenda of ILP, Mr DR Thapa MLA from Burtuk has also placed the proposal for the implementation of ILP in Sikkim as possible. He asserted that state mechanisms lack in maintaining the safeguards data about labour, and immigrants entering Sikkim through check gates across the inter-State borders.

In Related development, in early February 2023, the Sikkim government constituted a Committee to oversee the scalably of inner Line Permit in the state. Headed by Mr Santa Pradhan, Chairman of the ILP Committee, (Retd Secretary, Govt of Sikkim) they were supposed to study the implementation of ILP and its impact in other North-eastern states and make suitable recommendations. The ILP Committee also earmarked to submit its report within one month of the issue of the proposed notification. It may be mentioned here that amongst the NE states Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland have already implemented ILP in their respective states.

Moreover, Sikkim has a history of being largely homogeneous in terms of its demographics, a large influx of people from diverse backgrounds could lead to a more heterogeneous population. This could potentially bring about cultural changes, as well as changes in political attitudes and voting patterns.

Depending on the characteristics of the people who are moving in, this could also impact the ethnic, and socio-economic makeup of the state’s population.

An influx of people could certainly impact the demography of Sikkim in a very short time which can create bigger problems in future, and policymakers need to consider the potential consequences of such a shift. As such, the ILP system has become a must for security, as it helps to maintain law & order and the ever-changing demography, and also facilitates to preserve of our culture and tradition against aliens who come to harm our way of life and affairs. Government or opposition should stand together, hand in hand- united and true, and defend our adorable Sikkim with ILP as our guiding trademark, so our borders will forever be intact.

Everyone knows, Sikkim, despite being conferred with the “1st Organic State” designation long ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has not been able to nurture the benefits property on a larger scale. The state yet seems “nil in terms of exporting its organic produce to the world, forgetting world we can’t even export nationally”. To overcome these challenges, Sikkim may need to focus more on improving its infrastructure, increasing marketing efforts, and building relationships with international buyers. It may also be beneficial to collaborate with other regions that have established successful organic export markets to share knowledge and best practices.

In Sikkim, many regional political parties have indeed been in power for decades, and their governance has been characterized by a lack of accountability, transparency, and cooperation with the central government often, these parties rely on emotional appeals and identity politics to gain support, rather than presenting a clear and comprehensive vision for development and progress. Unfortunately, once in power, they have often failed to deliver on their promises and instead prioritize their interests or those of their supporters.

In many cases, these regional political parties are operating the government in a manner that is more centralized, and authoritarian & having megalomaniac mindsets, with power concentrated in the hands of a few individuals or a small group of leaders with no vision and mission causing difficulties in effective governance. This act has perpetuated a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment, leaving many citizens feeling disillusioned and disenfranchised in Sikkim. Additionally, a lack of cooperation between regional and national political parties can prevent effective governance and compromise the ability of governments to address prominent significant & vital issues. Now, citizens of Sikkim must demand greater accountability and transparency from their elected officials, and for political parties to prioritize the needs and aspirations of all sizes, rather than just a select few.

After decades of voting for regional parties, now, is the time to try something new, the BJP promises ”Sab ka sath, sab ka vikas” in the Northeast region, a vision that could come true. Their track record shows promises kept and progress made. It’s worth a shot to see how they’ll pave the way. So let’s put aside our differences and give them a chance to rule, who knows, they may just become the next political jewel.

So it may be worth considering forming direct support to national parties like BJP, rather than continuing to support regional parties which appear as new regional parties again and again who have failed to deliver on their promises. By aligning with a national party, there will be greater access to resources and opportunities for development, as well as increased accountability and transparency. However, it is important to evaluate the policies and the priority of the national party aligns with the needs and aspirations of the state and its people. Ultimately, the most important factor is ensuring that elected officials are accountable to the people, and are committed to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the state.

In recent years, BJP’s wave is unbeatable in the entire northeast, today, the world is viewing the positive developmental change in the BJP-ruled states. The BJP has made significant inroads even in India’s North Eastern Christian-dominated States like Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Arunachal. Arunachal, which is more diverse, Christians constitute 30% of the population. Recently in the Nagaland poll, though Naga’s faith in Christianity is firm and true, they’ve looked beyond religion, and in the BJP, they found a glimmer of hope & a promise of change, progress, and development, and believed that the saffron party- BJP’s the best judgment.

At the outset, it is not uncommon that Regional parties with a centralized power structure can lead to a lack of transparency, accountability, and cooperation with national parties, In some cases, these regional political parties are operating the government in a manner that is more centralized or authoritarian, with power concentrated in the hands of a few individuals or a small group of leaders causing difficulties in effective governance who know nothing about vision.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is one party that always believes in “Nation First, Party Next, and Self Last. The BJP is the only political party committed to selfless service to the nation. Through various initiatives and policies, the party has worked towards the betterment of the country and its citizens. Its focus on development, good governance, and national security has helped India progress toward becoming a prosperous and strong nation.

Amidst diverse regional political parties and in our quest for progress, we’ve wandered so long, we’ve tried many a hand.

Perhaps it’s time for BJP to lead us on, and let the BJP rule in Sikkim as well, with their sincere vision and dedication, Sikkim will excel in development, progress, and prosperity they’ll bring for the betterment of all. So let us welcome BJP with open hearts, and watch our beautiful Himalayan state-Sikkim transforms and excels on every front. Let’s give them a chance to set things right and address our grievances- be it economic, social, or political laurels.