1953 Sikkimese general election
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 | ||||||