GANGTOK, Aug 29 - A total of 32 SDF panchayat members from the Yangthang constituency in Sikkim have joined the ruling SKM party.
Avishek Sharma, press and publicity secretary, SKM, said: �We are glad that in one of the biggest entry of members from the Opposition camp, 32 out of 34 panchayat members from the Yangthang constituency have unconditionally accepted the leadership of Chief Minister PS Tamang and extended their unconditional support.�
Tamang, who is also the SKM president, has welcomed the panchayat members into the party fold and assured full support to them. He expressed the hope of working in coordination with them for the benefit of the people of the State.
During an interaction programme, the Chief Minister also stressed on strengthening the panchayati raj system in Sikkim by empowering the panchayat members. Tamang informed the new party members that the Government is also planning to increase the honorarium of panchayat members. He highlighted the role of gram sabhas in identifying the poor and needy so that they get the grants and benefits from the Government.
Minister Bhim Hang Subba, State Bank of Sikkim chairman DB Gurung, Confidential Secretary to the Chief Minister Bikash Basnet, SKM CLC president Dorjee Tshering Bhutia and SKM Youth chief convener Janak Gurung were present during the interaction programme.
