Sikkim's supplementary budget session scheduled for February 21, announces Chief Minister

On February 5, 2025, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced the successful conclusion of the one-day session of the Second Session of the Eleventh Sikkim Legislative Assembly, which was dedicated to the people of Sikkim. The session, which is a mandatory meeting for the year, was an essential part of the legislative calendar. The Chief Minister confirmed that a supplementary budget session is scheduled for February 21, followed by the main budget session in March. "Today's meeting was significant, and the presence of the Governor highlighted its importance," he remarked.

A key highlight of the session was the announcement regarding the upcoming municipal elections. The Chief Minister stated that elections for municipalities, panchayats, and other local bodies would now be held on a party basis, a decision driven by public demand. "In the past, we conducted party-less elections. However, the people of Sikkim have requested a change, and we have listened to their call for party-based elections," the Chief Minister said, underlining that this move is in response to the growing demand for more structured political participation at the grassroots level.

The Chief Minister shared details about an ongoing effort to provide Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to 12 communities that have been left out of the current list. The issue has been a topic of discussion for some time, and a high-level committee was formed to address it. A meeting was held at the Samman Bhawan earlier, and the next meeting, scheduled for February 10, will take place in Delhi, where Dr. Mahendra P. Lama will lead the discussions. This meeting, initially planned for Kolkata, will bring together members from the 12 communities seeking ST status, along with government officials, to discuss and finalize the draft proposal.

The Chief Minister spoke about the the importance of the Darjeeling region in this initiative, as it shares close ties with Sikkim and has 11 communities that will also benefit from the ongoing efforts. "This is a crucial step for Sikkim and its communities. The meeting in Delhi will serve as an important platform to discuss the issues at hand," he added.