'Wrong to say BJP is damaging regional parties, it has joined forces with them in North East,' says Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, whose party Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) returned to power in the Himalayan state, said recently that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in no way harming regional parties.

On being asked about BJP's expansion across the country, including in those areas that were previously dominated by smaller parties, Tamang told The Indian Express, "This is not true. To say that the BJP is damaging regional parties is wrong as whichever outfit is strong and popular continues to grow despite the BJP’s rise. The BJP does not work to finish off regional parties forcefully."

He further stated that the saffron party has worked for the Northeast by joining forces with regional outfits. The region has started to see development after 2014, said Tamang.

During the interview, Tamang also spoke about his focus in the next five years, highlighting that it would be on "BiPaSa: Bijli, Paani and Sadak".

"We have to work towards these to ensure the state is well-connected and people have amenities to lead better lives. We will also focus on improving the tourism sector," he said.

The SKM on June 2 won for the second consecutive term by bagging 31 seats in the 32-member assembly. The opposition Sikkim Democratic Fund (SDF), which ruled the state for 25 years till 2019, could manage only a seat.

SDF's president and former CM Pawan Kumar Chamling lost in the two seats he contested. Tamang, meanwhile, secured win from two seats, and his party bagged 58.38 per cent of the votes polled.

The SKM had won 17 seats in the 2019 assembly polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Tamang and the SKM for the victory. "Congratulations to SKM and CM @PSTamangGolay for their victory in the Sikkim assembly elections 2024. I look forward to working with the state government to further the progress of Sikkim in the coming times," he wrote on X.

Responding to the post, Tamang thanked the Prime Minister. "We are committed to continuing our efforts towards the development and prosperity of Sikkim. We look forward to collaborating with you to achieve our shared goals for the betterment of our state. Your unwavering support has been a driving force for us, and we look forward to your continued guidance and blessings," he said.

Elections to the assembly were held simultaneously with the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 19.