Ensure that people of Sikkim exercise franchise without fear:

The Sikkim Congress president Bharat Basnett Monday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that the people here get to exercise their franchise without fear as the SDF was "intimidating" voters.

"The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has vitiated the election process in Sikkim by pumping huge money amassed through corrupt means and also resorted to intimidation to voters and opposition parties to win the assembly polls by hook or crook," he told reporters.

Elections to the 32-member Sikkim Assembly and the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state would be held on April 11.

The Sikkim Democratic Front has denied the allegations of Basnett.

Basnett, who is the Congress candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state, said that it was the duty of the Centre and EC to crack down against the use of money and intimidation tactics being resorted to by the ruling party by.

The SPCC president alleged that Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling made "intimidating" speeches against opposition at one of his election meetings at Jorethang, but no action has been taken against him.

He also alleged that the SDF has pumped huge money collected from certain contractors, but there was no mechanism to prevent this malpractice.

The Congress is contesting dozen Assembly seats and also the Lok Sabha seat in the state.