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May 1949. But things did not work out properly and
a month later " the ministry was dissolved and the monarchy system
allowed to continue. On 5th Dec 19.50.a treaty was signed between
India and Sikkim that ratified the status of Sikkim as a
Protectorate with Chogyal as the monarch. Under this treaty, the
Defence and Foreign Affairs of Sikkim was to be looked after by
India.The Postal system and Currency would also be Indian. The
Internal administration would be looked after by the Chogyal.
Meanwhile a new party which was pro Maharaja was launched by the
name of National Party was formed. The famous parity formula was
introduced in which the Nepalis were equated with Bhutia Lepcha in
the distribution of seats in the state council although the
Nepalis constituted more than 70% of the total population.
The first general election was held in 1951 on
the basis of this parity formula. Of the twelve seats, six seats
were reserved for the Bhutia, Lepchas, six for the Nepalis.
Besides these five seats were to be filled by nomination by the
Maharaja. A Bhutia Lepcha candidate was to be first elected in a
primary election by the Bhutia Lepcha voters only. In order to
finally qualify these persons elected by the Bhutia-Lepcha voters
would be confirmed in the general election. For the purpose of the
elections, Sikkim was divided into four territorial
constituencies: Gangtok, North Central, Namchi & Pemayantse. The
twelve seats were distributed amongst these four constituencies.
For instance Pemayantse had 3 seats (2 Nepalis and I Bhutia) and a
voter in this constituency had to cast three votes one each for
the seats. So in effect one man had three votes in the Pemayantse
constituency.
The election process was further complicated as
a candidate in order to get elected would not only have to secure
the highest number of votes from his community but also a minimum
percentage of votes from the other community. The system of
calculating votes was as follows:
The candidate securing the highest number of
votes of the community which he
Along with the state council, an executive
council was also constituted. It consisted of the Dewan and four
elected members from the State Council. The second general
elections were held in 1958. The seats in the council were raised
from 17 to 20;2 new elective seats one general and the other
reserved for the Sangha Monastery were included. The number of
nominated seats were raised from 5 to 6. In 1960 a new political
party The Sikkim National Congress. emerged by the merger of the
Sawtantra Dal, Praja Samalen and the dissidents of the Sikkim
State Congress and the National party. Kazi Lendup Dorjee was
unanimously elected as the president of the party.
The third general elections were held in 1967.
Four more seats were fldded ! and the break up was: 7
Bhutia-Lepchas, 7 Nepalis, 1 Sanga, 1 Tsong, General and 6
nominated. During the end of 1969 a new party named : Sikkim
Janata Party was formed by Lal Bahadur Basnet. The fourth general
general election were held in 1970. In October 1972, the 'Sikkim
State Congress' and the 'Sikkim Janata Party' merged together to
form the 'Sikkim Janata Congress'.
The fifth general election was held in 1973 but
triggered off wide protests in the State on charges of rigging and
the demand of one man one vote voting pattern. In order to bring
normalcy to the state a process of conciliation between the
Chogyal and the political parlies through the Government of India
began and resulted in the tripartite agreement of the 8th
May 1973 with an aim to setting up a more democratic constitution
and ensuring greater legislative and executive powers for the
representatives of the people. The signatories were the Chogyal,
the Foreign Secretary, Government of India and the representatives
of the three political parties. |
