1953 Sikkimese general election
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12 seats in the Sikkim State Council | |||||||||||||
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General elections were held in Sikkim in mid-1953.[1] The Sikkim National Party and the Sikkim State Congress both won six seats.[1] Voter turnout was less than 30%.[1]
Electoral system
The State Council was established in 1953 by the Chogyal.[2] It had 18 members, of which 12 were elected and six (including the President) appointed by the Chogyal.[2] Of the 12 elected members, six were for the Nepali community and six for the Lepcha and the Bhutia communities.[2]
Candidates for election to the Council had to be at least 30 years old, whilst the voting age was set at 21.[1] Around 50,000 voters registered for the election.[1]
Results
| Party | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhutia-Lepcha | Nepali | Total | ||||
| Sikkim National Party | 6 | 0 | 6 | |||
| Sikkim State Congress | 0 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Appointed members | – | – | 6 | |||
| Total | 6 | 6 | 18 | |||
| Source: Hamlet Bareh | ||||||
Constituency-wise
Appointed members
In addition to the elected members, five members were appointed to the Sikkim State Council by the Chogyal; John S. Lal (President of the Council and Dewan of Sikkim), Rai Bahadur Densapa, Tekbir Khati, Palda Lama and Hon Lt Prem Bahadur Basnet[3][4]
Executive Council
The Executive Council was appointed on consisted of the President of the Council, John S. Lal and two of the elected members, Sonam Tsering and Kashiraj Pradhan.
| Name | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| John S. Lal | President of the Executive Council |
| Kashiraj Pradhan | Public Works, Excise, Education, and Transport |
| Sonam Tsering | Bazars, Forests, Health, and Press & publicity |
| Source:Proclamations from the Chogyal and the Dewan[5] | |
References
- ^ a b c d e Hamlet Bareh (2001) Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim Mittal Publications, p17
- ^ a b c Bareh, p16
- ^ a b "Results of elections - 1953". Sikkim Darbar Gazette. 2 (12). 12 May 1953.
- ^ a b Pem Choden Tenzing (July 2019). Monarchy to Democracy Understanding Political Development in Sikkim, 1970-1994 (Thesis). p. 147. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ Tashi Namgyal (4 August 1953). "State Council and Executive Council Proclamation - Memo No. 525". pp. 25, 28. Retrieved 22 June 2021.