Date:29/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/29/stories/2004012907261100.htm

National

Sikkim Government seeks simultaneous elections

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA, JAN. 28. The Sikkim Government has written to the Election Commission seeking simultaneous elections to the Assembly and the Lok Sabha. The present Government's term ends in September.

"The decision to advance the Assembly polls was taken to avoid both time and the expense of two elections in a single year,'' the political advisor to the Chief Minister and spokesman of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, B. B. Gurung, told The Hindu over telephone from Gangtok.

The issue was discussed at the meetings of the party's central executive convened by the Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling. It was decided that a special session of the Assembly be convened from February 4 for presentation of a vote-on-account budget.

Leaders of various political parties have been touring the State for campaigning, even as aspiring candidates have begun lobbying for ticket.