MetaBOT at 14:49, 8 July 2023

2023-07-08T14:49:08Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1974 Sikkimese general election
| country = Kingdom of Sikkim
| type = legislative
| previous_election = 1973 Sikkimese general election
| previous_year = 1973
| next_election = 1979 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election
| next_year = 1979
| election_date = 13 April 1974
| seats_for_election = 32 seats in the [[State Council (Sikkim)|Sikkim State Council]]
| majority_seats = 17

| party2 = Sikkim National Party
| image2 = Swastika right-facing.svg
| last_election2 = 9
| seats2 = 1

| party1 = Sikkim National Congress
| image1 = Kazi Lhendup Dorjee .jpg
| leader1 = [[Kazi Lhendup Dorjee]]
| leaders_seat1 = Tashiding
| last_election1 = 5
| seats1 = 31

| map2_image =
| title = Chief Minister
| before_election =
| before_party =
| posttitle = Chief Minister
| after_election = [[Kazi Lhendup Dorjee]]
| after_party = Sikkim National Congress
}}
'''General elections''' were held in [[Sikkim]] on 13 April 1974. They were the first elections in Sikkim to be held on the basis of [[universal suffrage]], and also the last as an independent country.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Verdict in Sikkim|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|date=27 Oct 1979|volume=14|issue=42/43|pages=1737–1738|jstor=4368050}}</ref> The result was a victory for the [[Sikkim National Congress]], which won 31 of the 32 seats in the State Council. [[Kazi Lhendup Dorjee]] subsequently became Chief Minister.<ref>[http://www.sikkimassembly.org/sikkim_legislative_assembly.html Sikkim Legislative Assembly: An overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921002208/http://www.sikkimassembly.org/sikkim_legislative_assembly.html |date=21 September 2014 }} Sikkim Assembly</ref> In May 1975 Sikkim became a state of [[India]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gupta|first1=Ranjan|title=Sikkim: The Merger with India|journal=Asian Survey|date=Sep 1975|volume=15|issue=9|pages=786–798|jstor=2643174|doi=10.1525/as.1975.15.9.01p0110k}}</ref> at which point the [[State Council (Sikkim)|State Council]] became the [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india/amendments/constitution-india-thirty-sixth-amendment-act-1975 |title=The Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975 |website=www.india.gov.in |quote=... the Assembly for Sikkim formed as a result of the elections held in Sikkim in April, 1974 ... shall be deemed to be the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim}}</ref>

==Background==
In the [[1973 Sikkimese general election|1973 elections]] the [[Sikkim National Party]] won nine seats out of eighteen elected seats in the 24-seat Sikkim State Council.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Jrp/pdf/133_10.pdf |title=AC Sinha |access-date=2014-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219074152/http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Jrp/pdf/133_10.pdf |archive-date=2014-02-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Sikkim National Congress]] and [[Sikkim Janata Congress]] claimed there had been vote rigging, leading to protests. Political parties and members of the public demanded ''[[one man, one vote]]''. On 8 May 1973 a tripartite agreement was signed between the [[Chogyal]] [[Palden Thondup Namgyal]], political parties and the [[government of India]]. The agreement provided for the establishment of a responsible government under the supervision of a Chief Executive nominated by the Indian government.<ref name="supremeCourt">{{cite web |url=https://main.sci.gov.in/jonew/judis/12205.pdf |title=R.C. Poudyal and ANR. Vs. Union of India and ORS. |quote="It further recited that the Chogyal as well as the representative of the people had requested the Government of India to assume responsibility ... to provide the head of the administration described as Chief Executive to help and achieve the State’s objectives. ... The Chief Executive was to be nominated by the Government of India" |website=Supreme Court of India |date=10 February 1993|access-date= 20 January 2021}}</ref><ref name=pioneer>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/sunday-edition/how-sikkim-became-a-part-of-india.html |title=How Sikkim became a part of India |newspaper=The Pioneer |date=4 November 2018 |access-date= 3 February 2021 |quote="This agreement had significantly curtailed the powers of the Chogyal and laid the grounds for holding fresh elections in April 1974 under the aegis of the Election Commission of India (ECI)"}}</ref>

==Electoral system==
Through the Representations of Sikkim Subjects Act, 1974, the Chogyal divided Sikkim into 31 territorial constituencies and one [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]] constituency. The 31 territorial constituencies were allocated as 15 for [[Nepali people|Nepalis]], 15 for the [[Bhutia]]-[[Lepcha people|Lepcha]] and one for [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|scheduled castes]], under a parity formula. The [[Sangha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sangha]] constituency represented Chogyal-recognized [[monasteries]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bareh|first1=Hamlet|title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim|date=2001|publisher=Mittal Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=81-7099-794-1|page=44|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jrr7HPr8NAQC&q=sikkim+election+1974&pg=PA18}}</ref>

==Campaign==
The Sikkim National Congress contested all the 32 seats, whilst the Sikkim National Party contested five seats. Elections were held with the support of [[Election Commission of India]].<ref>Bareh, p. 18</ref>

==Results==
{{Election results
|image=[[File:Sikkim State Council 1974.svg]]
|party1=[[Sikkim National Congress]]|seats1=31|sc1=+26
|party2=[[Sikkim National Party]]|seats2=1|sc2=–8
|total_sc=+8
|source=Sikkim Assembly Website<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sikkimassembly.org/sikkim_legislative_assembly.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921002208/http://www.sikkimassembly.org/sikkim_legislative_assembly.html |title=Sikkim Legislative Assembly |access-date=11 January 2022 |quote=The First Sikkim Assembly formed through the election held in 1974 with 32 members is deemed to be the First Legislative Assembly of Sikkim ... Sikkim Congress led by Kazi Lhendup Dorjee won 31 seats and one seat went in favour of Sikkim National Party.}}</ref>
}}

===Constituency-wise===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!#
!Constituency
!Reserved<br/>for<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP880-1-6-47 |title=Delimitation of Constituencies, 1974 |date=5 February 1974 |pages=32–34, 45 |access-date= 15 June 2021}}</ref>
!Winner
!colspan=2|Party<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP880-1-6-47 |title=List of contesting candidates, 1974 |date=11 March 1974 |pages=54–55, 68 |access-date= 15 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
|1
|Yoksam
|rowspan=2|[[Bhutia-Lepcha|BL]]
|Degay Bhutia
|rowspan=24 style="background-color: {{party color|Sikkim National Congress}}"|
|rowspan=24| [[Sikkim National Congress]]
|-
|2
|[[Tashiding]]
|[[Kazi Lhendup Dorjee]]
|-
|3
|[[Geyzing]]
|rowspan=3|[[Nepali people|Nepalis]]
|Kumari Hemlata Chettri
|-
|4
|Dentam
|[[N. B. Khatiwada|Narbahadur Khatiwada]]
|-
|5
|Barmiok
|Nanda Kumar Subedi
|-
|6
|[[Rinchenpong (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Rinchenpong]]
|[[Bhutia-Lepcha|BL]]
|Nayen Tsering Lepcha
|-
|7
|Chakung
|rowspan=4|[[Nepali people|Nepalis]]
|[[B. B. Gurung]]
|-
|8
|Soreong
|Chatur Singh Rai
|-
|9
|[[Daramdin (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Daramdin]]
|Krishna Bahadur Limboo
|-
|10
|[[Jorethang]]-[[Nayabazar]]
|Krishna Chandra Pradhan
|-
|11
|[[Ralang]]
|rowspan=2|[[Bhutia-Lepcha|BL]]
|Passang Tshering Bhutia
|-
|12
|Wak
|Adar Singh Lepcha
|-
|13
|[[Damthang]]
|rowspan=7|[[Nepali people|Nepalis]]
|Ratna Bijay Rai
|-
|14
|[[Melli (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Melli]]
|Nanda Bahadur Rai
|-
|15
|Rateypani West
|Pendam Bhuwani Prasad Kharcl
|-
|16
|[[Temi]]-[[Tarku, India|Tarku]]
|Badri Nath Pradhan
|-
|17
|Central Pendam-East Pendam
|Kehar Singh Karki
|-
|18
|[[Rhenock (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Rhenock]]
|Bhawani Prasad Dahat
|-
|19
|[[Regu]]
|Mohan Guru
|-
|20
|[[Pathing]]
|[[Bhutia-Lepcha|BL]]
|Sonpom Lepcha
|-
|21
|Loosing-Pachekhani
|[[Nepali people|Nepalis]]
|R. C. Poudyal
|-
|22
|Khamdong
|[[Scheduled Castes|SC]]
|Kusu Das
|-
|23
|[[Djongu (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Djongu]]
|rowspan=9|[[Bhutia-Lepcha|BL]]
|Loden Tsering Lepcha
|-
|24
|[[Lachen, Sikkim|Lachen]]-Mangshila
|Tasa Tengay Lepcha
|-
|25
|[[Kabi, Sikkim|Kabi]]-[[Tingda]]
|Kalzang Gyatso Bhutia
|style="background-color: {{party color|Sikkim National Party}}"|
|[[Sikkim National Party]]<ref name=TenzingThesis>{{cite thesis |url=http://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/handle/1/6961 |title=Monarchy to Democracy Understanding Political Development in Sikkim, 1970-1994 |date=July 2019 |author=Pem Choden Tenzing |access-date= 17 June 2021 |pages=147|quote=...Sikkim Congress Party and the Sikkim National Party would be the two parties to be given reserved symbols, the ladder with seven strings and the Swastika respectively.}}</ref>
|-
|26
|Rakdong-Tentek
|Rinzing Tongden Lepcha
|rowspan=7 style="background-color: {{party color|Sikkim National Congress}}"|
|rowspan=7 |[[Sikkim National Congress]]
|-
|27
|Martam
|Shepochung Bhutia
|-
|28
|[[Rumtek]]
|Phigu Tshering Bhutia
|-
|29
|Assam-Lingjey
|Dugo Bhutia
|-
|30
|Ranka
|Nim Tshering Lepcha
|-
|31
|[[Gangtok (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Gangtok]]
|Dorjee Tshering Bhutia
|-
|32
|[[Sangha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sangha]]
|[[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]]
|Karma Gonpo Lama
|- class="sortbottom"
|colspan=6|Source: Sikkim Darbar Gazette<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP880-1-6-47 |title=General Election to Sikkim Assembly, 1974 |date=20 April 1974 |pages=70–71 |access-date= 15 June 2021}}</ref>
|}

==Council of Ministers==
The [[Chogyal]] appointed the Council of Ministers on 23 July.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP880-1-1-50 |page=108 |title=Notification No 37/SC |date= |author= |access-date= 1 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP880-1-6-47#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=80&xywh=256%2C1261%2C3336%2C2102 |title=Sikkim Darbar Gazette |date= |author= |access-date= 1 July 2021}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Name
!Role
|-
|[[Kazi Lhendup Dorjee]]
|Chief Minister
|-
|Rinzing Tongden Lepcha
|rowspan=4|Minister
|-
|Bhawani Prasad Dahat
|-
|Dorjee Tshering Bhutia
|-
|Krishna Chandra Pradhan
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Sikkimese elections}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=1970s in Sikkim, Election and referendum articles with incomplete results
|description=
}}

[[Category:Elections in Sikkim|1974]]
[[Category:1974 elections in Asia|Sikkim]]
[[Category:1970s in Sikkim]]
[[Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results]]

1974 Sikkimese general election - Revision history

MetaBOT at 14:49, 8 July 2023