Fmr SDF leader Ganesh Rai launches Citizen Action Party, to contest 2024 Assembly Polls

By Prakash Adhikari

Ahead of the 2024 Assembly Elections in Sikkim, the state on Thursday got another political party. Former SDF leader and chief of Reform Call, Ganesh Rai, on the occasion of Republic Day today, launched Citizens Action Party (CAP) in Melli, his home constituency in South Sikkim.

Rai is looking at contesting the 2024 Assembly elections with CAP and is hopeful of not just winning but forming the government.

“Sikkim needs political reform. It is the need of the hour. The main aim and reason for launching this party is to bring about reforms in the political arena and the way political leaders and parties are behaving and working,” Rai said speaking exclusively to Northeast Live soon after the launch.

Asked why the party has been launched without a flag, Rai a veteran politician of the state, said that a lot of politics has been played over the flag in Sikkim. He did not want any politics being played because of a flag. “We have become polarised in our own villages because of the flag. Lachen Dzumsa (a kind of pachayati raj system of Sikkim) has banned political party flags. Prior to the ban, a lot of clashes used to take place. After they banned the flags, the clashes stopped. I took the idea from the Lachen Dzumsa, and flag anyways is not necessary or mandatory therefore, our political party is without a flag”.

Rai said that in a month’s time, the full committee will be in place. Election committee has already been set up. The party president too would be elected within a month.

Asked about forming a government in 2024, Rai said that before launching the party he was out on the streets of Sikkim, visiting villages and rural areas as part of his Sikkim Sudhar (betterment of Sikkim) campaign. “The love and response that we have got. The large number of people who have turned up today at the launch, I am confident that we will be able to form the government in 2024”.

Rai was the Vice President of SDF and his wife, Tulsi Devi Rai was an MLA from 2009-2014 and from 2014-19 she was also the minister for social welfare and PHE.

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