The BJP on Monday accorded a grand reception to the 10 Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) MLAs who have joined the saffron party earlier this month in New Delhi.
The MLAs switching sides propelled the BJP to the status of the main opposition in a state where it had not won a single seat in the recent assembly polls.
"We expect that these MLAs will work with dedication to make our party a strong outfit in Sikkim," state BJP president D B Chauhan said at the reception at Singtam, about 25 kilometre from here.
The 10 legislators include former minister D T Lepcha, once a trusted aide of the former chief minister and SDF president Pawan Kumar Chamling.
"We joined the BJP voluntarily to serve the people of Sikkim. We were encouraged by our voters to join the BJP to serve the people in a better way," Lepcha, a former minister, said.
The 10 legislators met BJP working president J P Nadda and joined the party on August 13 in the presence of its general secretary Ram Madhav, who is in charge of the party's affairs in the northeast.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app