Prem Singh Tamang a.k.a P.S. Golay was on Monday sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim. Mr. Golay’s party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), won 17 of the 32 Assembly seats in the April 11 election.
The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which has ruled the State for 25 years, won 15 seats.
Longest-serving CM
He succeeds Pawan Chamling of the SDF, who has the record of being the longest serving Chief Minister of the country, having won five consecutive terms for a little over 24 years.
Governor Ganga Prasad administered the oath of office to Mr. Golay at a grand ceremony at the Palzor Stadium in Gangtok.
Eleven other MLAs were sworn in as Ministers, including Kunga Nima Lepcha, the acting president of the SKM who won from two seats; Arun Uperti, the MLA from Airthang; and Sonam Lama, who won from Sangha, a seat reserved for monks.
Mr. Golay, 51, the sixth Chief Minister of the Himalayan State, started his career as a school teacher. Mr. Golay was elected to the Assembly in 1994 as an SDF candidate when he was just 26 and went on to serve as Minister holding several portfolios for three consecutive terms till 2009.
However, after differences cropped up between him and Mr. Chamling, the party president, he formed the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha in February 2013.
In the 2014 Assembly election, the SKM bagged 10 seats. Mr. Golay was later convicted and served a prison term till his release in August 2018.
Since his release, Mr. Golay’s political events and rallies drew huge crowds. It was not clear whether the SKM chief would take up the post of Chief Minister or appoint someone else, but the speculation was set aside on Monday.
After being sworn in, Mr. Golay assured the people that his government would work to ensure peace in Sikkim, and for the welfare of all sections.
At his first meeting with government officials, he asked them to work without fear or favour. He also announced that Saturdays would be a holiday for government employees.
