Sikkim: History
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Integration with India
1975
In 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of India, following a referendum that was conducted by the government of India. Prior to this, Sikkim was a Himalayan kingdom ruled by the Chogyal (king) under a monarchical system. The referendum was held after a period of political turmoil in Sikkim, with protests and agitation by political groups demanding a merger with India. The referendum was approved by a significant majority, and Sikkim officially became a part of India on May 16, 1975.
This ended its status as a protectorate and merging it with India. After that, the political history of Sikkim has been marked by various parties and leaders coming to power, as well as occasional protests and controversies.
After Sikkim's merger with India, the government of India introduced several measures to integrate the state into the Indian administrative system. This included the appointment of a Chief Minister and the establishment of a Legislative Assembly. In 1979, the first elections to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly were held, and Nar Bahadur Bhandari became the state's first Chief Minister. Bhandari went on to serve as Chief Minister for several terms, with his last term ending in 1994.
Here is a detailed overview of the political history of Sikkim from 1975 to 2021:
1975-1979: The first Chief Minister of Sikkim after its merger with India was Nar Bahadur Bhandari, who served from 1975 to 1979. Bhandari was a member of the Sikkim Congress, which later merged with the Indian National Congress. During his tenure, he worked towards developing the infrastructure of the state, including the construction of roads and bridges.
Details
May 16, 2023: The Indian Express
Sikkim day is annually celebrated on May 16, recalling the history of the former kingdom’s integration with India in 1975. This year too, political leaders such as Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi and Home Minister Amit Shah conveyed their messages, marking the day India’s the 22nd state joined the union.
How did the state join India, around two decades after Sardar Vallabbhai Patel led the task of integration of princely states into India? We explain.
Sikkim’s history with the Chogyal royals
The kingdom of Sikkim was established in 1642, when, according to one account, three Tibetan lamas consecrated Phuntsong Namgyal as the first ruler or Chogyal of Sikkim. The monarchy of the Namgyal dynasty was maintained for the next 333 years, until its integration with India in 1975.
Sikkim’s Chogyal dynasty was of Tibetan origin. Sandwiched between India and China, and often party to conflicts over land with Bhutan and Nepal, the British colonisation of India first led to a kind of formal relationship developing between the two states.
The British saw Sikkim as a buffer state against China and against Nepal, with whom they fought in the Anglo-Gorkha war of 1814-16, helping Sikkim secure a number of territories that Nepal had previously captured.
A formal protectorate was established over Sikkim through the Treaty of Tumlong in 1861, meaning the British had control over it but it was not officially under their rule and the Chogyals could continue holding onto power.
Other official treaties followed: The treaty of Titaliya in 1817 gave the British authorities a number of commercial and political advantages in Sikkim. The Calcutta Convention of 1890 demarcated the border between Sikkim and Tibet, and was signed by Viceroy Lord Lansdowne and Qing China’s Imperial Associate Resident in Tibet. The Lhasa Convention of 1904 affirmed the Calcutta Convention.
Independent India and Sikkim
After India’s independence, princely states had the option to accede to India or Pakistan, and certain cases – like of Hyderabad, Junagadh and Kashmir – where a decision was not immediate, led to greater confusion. Such was the case with Sikkim, thanks to a unique relationship with British rule. Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan writes in his book, ‘The Origin of India’s States’, that Sardar Vallabbhai Patel and the constitutional adviser to the constituent assembly, BN Rau, wanted to integrate the state with India by having the then Chogyal Tashi Namgyal sign the Instrument of Accession.
India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, noted the unique situation in Sikkim. India was, during meetings with representatives between the two, of the view that it should take control of defence, external affairs and communication subjects for Sikkim. Until this was finalised, it was to sign a Standstill Agreement, keeping things as they were for the time being.
Meanwhile, there was at least some demand within Sikkim to develop closer ties with India. Srinivasan’s book says that ethnically, Sikkim consisted of three communities, the Bhutias, Lepchas and Nepalis, of which the Nepalis formed the largest group. Three political parties, the Sikkim State Congress (SSC) led by a Bhutia man, the Praja Mandal (PM) that had Lepcha leadership and Praja Sudharak Samaj (PSS) was led by a Nepali, passed a resolution in December 1947 demanding a popular government, abolition of landlordism and accession to India.
A delegation of SSC and PM leaders also met Jawaharlal Nehru, who was of the view that India could not intervene at this moment, and that Sikkim should “grow according to its own genius.” Years later, PN Dhar, who was the Principal Secretary to PM Indira Gandhi, recalled that she said “in very clear terms” that her father had made a mistake in not heeding the wishes of the people of Sikkim to merge with India.
After protests in Sikkim, the king appointed an Indian officer as the diwan or chief minister, along with an advisory committee with SSC representatives.
In 1950, the Indo-Sikkim Treaty was signed, making Sikkim an Indian protectorate. It would not be sovereign, as India controlled its defence, external affairs and strategic communications. It also secured exclusive rights to build infrastructure there and Sikkimese people would travel abroad with Indian passports. “Internal autonomy” was to be available to Sikkim. Additionally, a clause gave India overriding powers in cases of security threats.
How Sikkim joined India
Sikkim’s state council or assembly had some elected members and others nominated by the king. In the early years, it saw some political tussle over the representation for various communities, and the Chogyal’s reluctance to let go of his control.
The 1960s and 1970s would see several events change the course of Sikkim’s status.
First, a split in the SSC led to the formation of the Sikkim National Congress (SNC) in 1960. The party would go on to play a crucial role in accession.
There was also change in political leadership on both sides in this decade, with the death of Nehru in 1964 and of his successor, PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, in 1966. Then Chogyal Tashi Namgyal died in 1963, and Maharaj Kumar Thondup succeeded him, planning to leverage this period of changes to seek an independent status for Sikkim.
For new Indian PM Indira Gandhi, her position weakened after the 1967 general elections that saw her return to power with a reduced majority in the Lok Sabha. This was following the India-China war of 1962, where India lost. It made it all the more important to contain skirmishes between Indian and Chinese troops on the Sikkim border. The two states decided to alter existing wording to indicate a “permanent relationship” between them, but the Chogyal wanted further clarity on Sikkim’s independence.
This was slowly becoming unacceptable to the Indian leadership, which by the early 1970s, decided to back pro-democracy forces in Sikkim – such as Kazi Dorji of the SNC.
Former R&AW officer Sidhu noted in his book ‘Sikkim: Dawn of Democracy’ that an Indian delegation went to Gangtok in 1973 as head of a small R&AW team, to inform the Chogyal of Chinese activities. But his real charter was to liaise with the Sikkim Congress, provide them with assistance and advice in the final, by then, aim of Sikkim’s merger with India.
Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Deb Mukharji, notes that Sidhu recounted “in detail his efforts to unify the pro-democracy and pro-merger political forces in Sikkim, which also happened to represent the majority.”
Anti-monarchy protests grew in Sikkim in 1973, following which the royal palace was surrounded by thousands of protesters. Indian troops arrived after the monarch was left with no choice but to ask New Delhi to send assistance. Finally, a tripartite agreement was signed in the same year between the chogyal, the Indian government, and three major political parties, so that major political reforms could be introduced.
A year later, in 1974, elections were held, where the Sikkim Congress led by Kazi Dorji won. That year, a new constitution was adopted, which restricted the role of the monarch to a titular post. A referendum was held in Sikkim in 1975, where two-thirds of eligible voters took part. Here, 59,637 votes were cast in favour of abolishing the monarchy and joining India, with 1,496 voting against.
Within a week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs introduced the Constitution (Thirty-Sixth Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha to recognise Sikkim as a state in the Union of India. This was passed in the Parliament and assented to by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, coming into effect on May 16, 1975.
Sikkim’s new parliament, led by Dorji, proposed a bill for Sikkim to become an Indian state, which was accepted by the Indian government.
1979
1979-1984: In 1979, Sikkim had its first election after becoming a state, which was won by the Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP), a regional party. The SSP formed the government, and Kazi Lhendup Dorjee became the Chief Minister. However, his tenure was marked by controversy, as he was accused of corruption and nepotism. In 1984, Dorjee was arrested and the SSP government was dismissed.
1984
1984-1989: After the dismissal of the SSP government, Sikkim was put under President's rule.
In 1985, the Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) was formed as the first political party in Sikkim. The party was led by Pawan Chamling, who later went on to become the state's longest-serving Chief Minister. The SSP was renamed the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) in 1993, and it has been in power in Sikkim since 1994. Under Chamling's leadership, the SDF introduced various initiatives for the state's development, including the introduction of organic farming, the expansion of tourism, and the establishment of various educational and healthcare institutions.
In 1985, a new election was held, which was won by the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), a new regional party formed by Pawan Kumar Chamling. Chamling became the Chief Minister, and he held the position for the next 24 years, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister of any Indian state.
1989
1989-1994: In the 1989 election, the SDF won again and Chamling continued as Chief Minister. During this period, he focused on developing the tourism industry in Sikkim and promoting the state as a tourist destination. He also worked towards improving the education and healthcare sectors.
1994
1994-1999: In the 1994 election, the SDF won again and Chamling was re-elected as Chief Minister. His government continued to focus on tourism, education, and healthcare. In 1997, Sikkim became the first state in India to achieve 100% literacy. During this period, the government also focused on the development of infrastructure and agriculture. Chamling also worked towards preserving the cultural heritage of Sikkim and promoting the state as a destination for adventure tourism.
2004
2004-2009: In the 2004 election, the SDF won again and Chamling was re-elected as Chief Minister for the fifth time. During this period, the government focused on promoting the organic farming industry in Sikkim, making it the first state in India to become fully organic.
2009
2009-2014: In the 2009 election, the SDF won again and Chamling was re-elected as Chief Minister for the sixth time. During this period, the government focused on promoting the hydropower sector and attracting investment to the state. The government also worked towards improving the road infrastructure in Sikkim.
2014
2014-2019: In the 2014 election, the SDF won again and Chamling was re-elected as Chief Minister for the seventh time. During this period, the government continued to focus on developing the infrastructure and tourism sectors. However, there were also some controversies, as the government was accused of corruption and nepotism.
2019
In 2019, Sikkim became the first state in India to have an open defecation-free (ODF) status, which was achieved through the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission). The state has also introduced several welfare programs, including the Chief Minister's Startup Scheme and the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Annual and Total Check-up for Healthy Sikkim (CATCH) program. In addition, Sikkim has been promoting eco-tourism and has been declared as India's first fully organic state.
In terms of political developments, in 2019, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party, led by Prem Singh Tamang, defeated the SDF in the state's legislative assembly elections. Tamang became the new Chief Minister of Sikkim, ending Chamling's 25-year-long tenure as Chief Minister. The SKM has been working towards implementing various welfare programs and initiatives for the state's development.
2019: SKM’s Golay sworn in as CM
Chewan K Dahal, SKM’s Golay takes oath as Sikkim CM, May 28, 2019: The Times of India
Gangtok:
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) president Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) was sworn in as the sixth chief minister of Sikkim during a public function at Paljor Stadium.
Governor Ganga Prasad administered the oath of office and secrecy to Golay and his cabinet members. Golay took the oath of office in Nepali language along with the 11-member council of ministers comprising SKM acting president Kunga Nima Lepcha and others.
After taking charge of the office, chief minister PS Golay announced a five-day working week for state government employees.
“We have fulfilled one of our election promises to reduce the working week for government employees from six days earlier to five days,” he said.
2019- 2021
In the period between 2019 and 2021, Sikkim witnessed significant political developments, including the loss of power by the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party, which had been in power for 25 years.
In the 2019 legislative assembly elections, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party, led by Prem Singh Tamang, defeated the SDF and formed the government in Sikkim. Tamang, who is also known as P. S. Golay, became the new Chief Minister of Sikkim. The SKM won 17 out of the 32 seats in the assembly, while the SDF won 15 seats.
Under Tamang's leadership, the SKM government has been focusing on various initiatives for the state's development, including the introduction of the One Family One Job scheme, which aims to provide government jobs to at least one member of each family in Sikkim. The government has also been working on improving healthcare facilities in the state, with the launch of the Mukhya Mantri Sishu Swasthya Karyakram (MMSSK) program, which provides free healthcare services to children up to the age of 18 years.
In addition, the SKM government has been promoting tourism and has launched several initiatives to boost eco-tourism in the state. The government has also been working on improving road connectivity and infrastructure in Sikkim.
However, the SKM government has also faced some controversies and criticisms. In 2020, the government faced criticism for appointing Tamang's brother as the Chairman of the Sikkim State Cooperative Bank. The government was also criticized for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, with some opposition parties accusing the government of not doing enough to contain the spread of the virus.
The period between 2019 and 2021 has been a significant time in Sikkim's political history, with the loss of power by the SDF and the rise of the SKM government. The SKM government has been working on various initiatives for the state's development, but it has also faced criticism and challenges along the way. Sikkim continues to work towards achieving sustainable development and growth under the leadership of its elected representatives.
