Sikkimese identity will be main issue in 2024 polls: CAP leader Bharat Basnett

He said that Sikkim is in dire need of reformative politics whether it be economic reforms or political reforms.

Veteran political leader of Sikkim, Bharat Basnett who recently joined Citizen Action Party (CAP) said today that the issue of Sikkimese identity would be the main issue in the Sikkim Assembly elections to be held few months from now.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, Basnett said, “The biggest issue for the 2024 polls will be the definition of Sikkimese. The judgement of AOSS (Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim) was unfair which should have been defended by the government, whether it be the previous SDF government or the present SKM government. Since the government didn’t defend the judgement the Sikkimese term has been diluted.”

“Whether I am in a national party or not I have always fought for the Sikkimese issue. Out of the nation’s population of 140 crore, we have a population of 4 lakh people. To demolish the identity of that demography is not fair,” he added.

He said that Sikkim is in dire need of reformative politics whether it be economic reforms or political reforms.

He added, “There will definitely be reforms in Sikkim, this is the era of youngsters and the politics of CAP is that of youths.”

Asked why Basnett left Congress and chose CAP, the former Congress leader said that CAP is a party of scholars and youngsters with fresh idea and ideologies for a better Sikkim that aligns with those of his.
Bharat Basnett joined the CAP on January 2 this year. Hailing from Ranipol, Gangtok, Basnet joined politics between 1985-86. In 2009 assembly elections, he contested from Arithang constituency on a Congress ticket but lost. He had also contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He resigned from the Congress in 2020.

Also Read: Sikkim: Former Cong leader Bharat Basnet joins CAP

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