Big Setback to SDF in Sikkim: 43 Leaders, Including Ashish Rai and G M Gurung Resign, Likely to Join Ruling SKM

Opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Party suffered a major setback as 43 leaders including prominent party leaders like Ashish Rai and G M Gurung quit the party today.

The leaders cited the party’s failure to engage effectively with constituents and its diminishing influence in state politics as key reasons for their exit.
Ashish Rai was the youth in-charge of the SDF. His resignation comes a year after he re-joined the party last year.

Ashish Rai had quit the SDF party on March 25, 2019, to be an independent candidate from Arithang after he was denied a ticket to contest from the Arithang constituency in the 2019 Assembly elections in the state. After 4 and a half years, he re-joined SDF on September 19, 2023. He had contested the Arithang seat in the 2024 Assembly elections but lost.

Here is the list of those who resigned from SDF:

1. G M Gurung from Rangpo Pakyong
2. Kishore Khadka from Rhenock Pakyong
3. Asish Rai from Arithang Gangtok
4. Damber Dahal from Namcheybong Pakyong
5. Satish Mohan Pradhan from Gayzing Bermoik
6. MB Gurung Geyzing Bermoik
7. Tika Sharma from Gayzing Bermoik
8. Shiva Kumar from Timsaina Sumbuk Melli
9. Sharad Kharka from Rumtek Martek Gangtok
10. Karma Hissay Bhutia from Rhenock Pakyong
11. Ashok Subba from Rhenock Pakyong
12. Pravin Gurung from Rinchenpong Gayzing
13. Arjun Thapa from Gayzing Bermoik
14. Ajit Basnett from Namthang
15. Mojesh Bantawa Raj from Singtam
16. DB Pradhan from Khamdong
17. Budha Bir Subba from Singtam
18. Bishal Gurung from Namcheypong
19. Bikash Rai from Rongli
20. Kumar Gurung from Rongli
21. Arun Rai from Rongli Chuchachen
22. Bikash Subba from Chuchachen
23. Ravi Darjee from Khamdong-Singtam
24. Sameer Pradhan from Khamdong-Singtam
25. Sanjay Subba from Khamdong-Singtam
26. Kamal Shanker from Khamdong-Singtam
27. Yogesh Chettri from Khamdong-Singtam
28. Wongchuk Bhutia from Khamdong-Singtam
29. Akal Sing Rai from Khamdong-Singtam
30. Kamal Gurung from Khamdong-Singtam
31. Danny Lepcha from Khamdong-Singtam
32. Roshan Chettri from Khamdong-Singtam
33. Sunil Rai from Khamdong-Singtam
34. Tilak Subba from Khamdong-Singtam
35. Sanjit Rai from Khamdong-Singtam
36. Hari Prasad Gurung from Khamdong-Singtam
37. Deepan Rai from Khamdong-Singtam
38. Anmol Khati from Khamdong-Singtam
39. Manjil Gurung from Khamdong-Singtam
40. Sanjay Subba from Khamdong-Singtam
41. Ropesh Gurung from Khamdong-Singtam
42. Praanoy Gurung from Khamdong-Singtam
43. Birhang Subba from Khamdong-Singtam

SDF that had ruled the state for 25 years under the Chief Ministership of Pawan Chamling was wiped out in the 2024 elections as just Tenzing Norbu Lamtha managed to win the elections. Even party patriarch, Chamling had lost the elections. In July this year, within a month of the elections, Lamtha joined the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) literally putting an end to the SDF’s era in the Assembly at least for now.
The 43 leaders are said to be in touch with the ruling SKM and are expected to join the party soon.

Also Read: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Visit Sikkim from Oct 10-12 to Inaugurate Memorial for GLOF Victims

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