SDF govt spent Rs 7.59 crore to publish books on Chamling

The erstwhile Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government had spent Rs 7.59 crore to publish 52 books on former chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, the House was informed on Wednesday.

The state Information and Public Relations(IPR) department Minister L N Sharma replying to a question by MLA Bishnu Kumar Sharma said that the department had published a total of 52 books on Chamling between 1999 and 2019 at an expense of Rs 7,58,94,283.

While bills related to the publication of books whose serial number is between one to 45 have been settled, an outstanding liability of Rs 1,25,76,000 for those between serial number 46 to 52 is pending with the department, he said.

The books had been published by IPR department on the direction of the Chamling himself.

Chamling, a five-term chief minister, ruled Sikkim from 1994 to 2019 before his party, the SDF was ousted from power by Sikkim Krantikari Morcha headed by Prem Singh Tamang in a closely-fought assembly polls earlier this year.