The newly-formed Citizen Action Party (CAP) led by Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) dissident Ganesh K Rai held its first public meeting at Rolep in the 21-Gnathang Machong Constituency yesterday.

The meeting was attended by Chief Coordinator of the party Ganesh Kumar Rai, District Working President In-charge Pakyong District, District President Pakyong District, and other senior executive members of the party.

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The meeting was held to distribute the appointment orders to Area Constituency Executive Council leaders of constituencies under Pakyong, Gangtok, and Mangan districts. Also, the party launched its website, and the crowd funding process was opened for the public.

“The welcome address was delivered by Albert Gurung, Spokesperson cum Co-President of the All Sikkim Student Welfare Council, wherein he appealed to the Education Department to release the pending scholarship for college students. The meeting was also addressed by Spokesperson cum Co-President All Sikkim Youth Welfare Council Mahesh Rai, wherein he stressed on the role of the youth in bringing reformative politics in Sikkim and also reminded the government to work for the people by bringing propeople policies,” the party said.

Addressing the meeting, Deewash Gurung, the Youth President, Soreng District, highlighted the need for flagless politics and also how flags had brought about a division in a unified society of Sikkim. Mr Gurung, in his address, also reminded the government to deliver their promise of regularization of OFOJ Employees.

Later on, Sumati Chettri, President, All Sikkim Women Welfare Council, spoke on safety and security of women in Sikkim. In his keynote address, the Chief Coordinator of the party, Ganesh K Rai, stressed on why a new thought of politics was needed in Sikkim.

“He also spoke on the present economic crisis that Sikkim is undergoing and also the wastage of public money on projects that are not in the interest of Sikkimese people. Chief Coordinator Mr Rai also announced that after forming the government in 2024, Citizen Action Party-Sikkim will return the land to the owners that are still unused and was acquired for projects by the state government and private companies. The party, after coming to power next year, will also immediately start the old pension scheme in the larger interest of the government employees,” the party said.

“Citizen Action Party Sikkim shall also finish the BDO Raj in the state and give more power to the Panchayats to strengthen the local self-government to empower the local self bodies. The party shall also reinstate all the government employees terminated by the present government by counting the service term from the day of termination. The victory for Citizen Action PartySikkim in next year’s assembly election will be the ultimate victory for the Sikkimese people,” a party leader said.