SDF ticket hopefuls join Cong

The final declaration of assembly candidates by the ruling SDF has triggered desertions in the party by disappointed ticket aspirants.

The announcement of the final list of assembly candidates by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front on Monday last has triggered desertions in the party by disappointed ticket aspirants.

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They are joining the opposition Congress led by former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari who is trying to cash in on the ticket turmoil in the rival camp by not just welcoming the SDF dissidents into the party fold but also fielding them from the constituencies of their choice.

There have been three desertions by ticket hopefuls so far from the SDF, including those of D B Gurung, Sherahang Subba and Kunga Nima Lepcha, who have all been taken into Congress fold and given tickets from seats they wanted to contest from.

While Gurung has entered the fray from Geyzing, Subba and Lepcha are contesting from Dentam and from Assam-Lingzey respectively.

All these leaders joined the Congress soon after they failed to make it to the last list of the SDF nominees earlier this week.

Their candidature was announced by the Congress at a well-attended campaign meet in Geyzing yesterday, party sources here said.