BJP loses assembly by-poll to Sikkim Democratic Front

Gangtok April 15 (IANS) Ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) candidate Dilli Ram Thapa on Saturday defeated BJP s Suresh Khanal Sharma to win the Upper Burtuk assembly by-poll garnering over 8 000 votes.

According to the Election Commission Thapa secured 8 406 votes to claim the Upper Burtuk seat while nearest rival Sharma could only garner 374 votes out of the total 9 427 polled on April 12.

The Congress Sumitra Rai got just 98 votes -- two less than the NOTA or none of the above.

Five independent candidates got a cumulative 449 votes.

The by-poll was necessitated following the disqualification of sitting MLA Prem Singh Tamang accused of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as the state Animal Husbandry department Minister in 1996-97.

Tamang a former SDF leader is founder of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha the largest opposition in the 32-member state assembly.

--IANS
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