Sikkim: Tshering Wangdi Lepcha Resigns From SDF After Being With the Party for Over 30 Years, to Join SKM

Reported by Prakash Adhikari | Copy edited by Lipika Roy

In a big jolt to the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), former Sikkim Forest Minister and a senior SDF leader Tshering Wangdi Lepcha has resigned from the party today after being with the party for over 30 years.

In his resignation letter, Lepcha wrote, “Due to certain unavoidable reasons I am not in a position to be a member of your S.D.F. Party.”

Interestingly, Lepcha who once used to strongly oppose and criticise the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang will join the SKM soon.

Earlier, revealing his decision to Northeast Live, Lepcha stated that he had already informed about his decision to quit SDF to party chief President Pawan Chamling and had met SKM president and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.

Commenting on his political shift, Lepcha said that there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies in politics.

As he considered joining the SKM, Lepcha accused SKM’s Gnathang Machong constituency MLA Pamin Lepcha and her father, Rajya Sabha MP DT Lepcha, of victimizing the local population. He mentioned that he had already informed Chief Minister Tamang about these allegations.

Tshering Wangdi Lepcha began his political career in 1993 and has served as an MLA twice, winning assembly elections from the Lachen Mangan constituency in 2009 and 2014. During his tenure, he held the position of Forest Minister until 2019.

In the 2019 Assembly elections, he contested from Lachen Mangan constituency but lost to SKM candidate Samdup Lepcha

In 2024, he contested from Gnathang Machong constituency but lost again to SKM candidate Pamin Lepcha.

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