SKM govt to fulfil peoples' expectations, aspirations : Sikkim

Sikkim Governor Ganga Prasad on Monday said the coming to power of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha(SKM) government led by Prem Singh Tamang marks the beginning of a new era in the state and it will strive to fulfil expectations and aspirations of its people.

"I congratulate the SKM led by P S Tamang on winning the elections in Sikkim and forming the new government ... This is the beginning of a new era in Sikkim," he said addressing the five-day budget session, which began on Monday.

"I am sure the new government will fulfil the expectations and aspirations of the people of the state," Prasad said.

In the Sikkim Assembly elections, held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls in the state, the SKM had trounced the government of Pawan Kumar Chamling who had ruled the state for five successive terms since 1993.

Prasad said the Sikkim government's thrust will be to review the total committed liabilities of the state AS WELL AS addressing the immediate requirements of the State and the people.

He observed that Sikkim has evolved into a progressive state with marked improvements in socio-economic indicators despite disadvantages of inadequate connectivity, high cost of infrastructure building, maintenance and difficulties in delivering services to dispersed populations in hilly areas.

The state government will preside over prudent public finance management for achieving overall socio-economic development in the state, he said.

The SKM government, he said, has also prepared a white paper comprising a department-wise detail about pending bills, fund requirements, liabilities, bank loans and revenue potential to streamline the finances and would be placed in the Assembly during the budget session for discussion.

The governor said that Sikkim has fulfilled most of United Nations Sustainable Development goals by tailoring its development policies and programmes to attain targets like poverty reduction, zero hunger, health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, clean energy, innovation, sustainable cities, peace and justice.

He said efforts should be made to put Sikkim, which is endowed with natural beauty and rich biodiversity on the global tourist map to generate revenue and create employment opportunities for locals.

"Our tourism potential can turn out to be a major economic driver for social and economic transformation of Sikkim and its people," he said.

Opposition Sikkim Democratic Front MLAs, led by Chamling boycotted the budget session questioning the legitimacy of Tamang, also known as P S Golay, to hold the chief minister's post claiming that he is ineligible to do so after being convicted to one year's imprisonment in a corruption case two years ago.

Tamang on Monday requested the Election Commission to waive his disqualification from contesting polls.

Tamang cannot contest elections because of the conviction and stands disqualified but he has to contest assembly polls within six months of becoming the chief minister to continue in office.