Fake voters remark: SKM warns legal action against Bhaichung Bhutia

SKM spokesperson Jacob Khaling alleged that Bhutia had fooled the people by presenting wrong facts about the voters in the state.

The ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has decided to go for legal action against SDF leader Bhaichung Bhutia for his allegation accusing the ruling party of using fake voters in the last election and allegedly planning to do the same this time.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, SKM spokesperson Jacob Khaling who is also the political secretary to Sikkim CM said that Bhutia had fooled the people of the Himalayan state for which the party had decided to take a legal course against the footballer-turned-politician.

Khaling when asked if his party was mulling legal action against Bhutia said, “He has committed a crime by furnishing false data about voters. Either he seek apology from the people or stay ready to face the law. Yes, definitely we will go for it (legal action). Because he had fooled the people, whatever crime is done, we will try to minimize those.”

Khaling also challenged Bhaichung Bhutia to explain the highest spike in number of voters during the SDF regime from 2009-2014. The SKM leader said, “During our government from 2019 till today, there are 28, 328 new voters which means there is an increase of 3.52%. This is increase is normal, this is a natural increase. But there has been a big increase of 70,186 during the SDF government during 2009 to 2014. Bhaichung should explain as to how come so much votes increased. He should place details about and after that he can level allegations against us.”

Accusing that Bhaichung Bhutia had furnished wrong details about the increase in number of voters, Jacob Khaling spoke in details about the increase in voters from 2004 till the current year.

Khaling stated, “I have some verified data with me, since 2004 to 2009 the SDF government was in power and there was a 6.61% increase in voters which is equal to 18, 647 voters. From 2009 to 2014 Sikkim witnessed the highest increase in voters-70,186, in terms of percentage it will be 23.34%, this too happened during the SDF regime.

After that from 2014 to 2019, 63, 358 votes increased which is 17.8% of the total population.”
Last week, Bhaichung Bhutia had accused Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and his party Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) of bringing in fake voters from outside the state during the 2019 elections.

He alleged that the SKM party is hiring voters from outside Sikkim this time as well and the number of voters has increased by 28,000.

Watch also: Fake voters remark: SKM warns legal action against Bhaichung Bhutia

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