Correspondent
GANGTOK, March 12 – Due to anti-party activities, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) expelled some of its members including Bhojraj Rai, founder member of the SDF and also a former MLA.A high-level meeting held on March 10 at Mintokgang decided to expel those members who were indulging in anti-party activities. A press release issued by the SDF mentioned that Bhojraj Rai, resident of Namchi, Kala Rai, resident of Burtuk, RK
Walling (Reshi) ,Jacob Khaling (Chumboong), Nuk Tshering Bhutia (Melli), Anand Lama (Deorali), Rameshwar Tamang ( Lal Bazaaar Gangtok), Yaapchung Bhutia (Ravangla), Phitub Tshering Bhutia (Sribadam), Mitralal Sharma (Hee- Bermiok), Jamansing Tamang (Jorethang), Tenzing Bhutia (East Sang) and Kiran Gurung resident of Chakhung were expelled by the SDF Party. Further, the release stated that the primary membership of those expelled members is even cancelled along with their designation or portfolio as given by the party. In total, 14 members were expelled from the SDF party.
Rai expresses relief
at his ouster
Gangtok, March 12 – Former Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) MLA Bhoj Raj Rai today hit out at the party supremo and Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling for running the ruling party like his personal ‘fiefdom’ and said that he and other party workers were relieved at being expelled from the party.
“We are relieved at being expelled from the SDF by Chamling for exercising our democratic rights of freedom of speech and expression,” he told reporters here a day after he along with 13 other leaders and workers were expelled from the party for their alleged anti-party activities.
The expulsion has proved that contrary to his posturing as a democratic leader Chamling was an autocratic and intolerant leader who could not accept criticism of his government’s policies and programmes from anybody, Rai, a two-term former MLA, said.
Stating that their expulsion from the ruling party was a moral victory for them for having succeeded in exposing the ‘ugly’ face of the Chief Minister as a dictator, Rai said that the rebel leaders and workers will now set upon the task of forming a political platform in the larger goal to provide a viable alternative to the SDF rule under the leadership of the disgruntled four-term MLA P S Tamang. – PTI
