Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling scripted history on Sunday when he became the longest serving CM in the country. In doing so, he broke the earlier record set by former West Bengal CM Jyoti Basu. Chamling completed 23 years, four months and 17 days in office on 29 April.

The 68-year-old founding president of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) was sworn in as the chief minister of Sikkim for the first time on December 12, 1994.

“My future is in the hands of my people. It is their abundant love, support and belief that I have been able to reach this milestone,” Mr Chamling told a congratulatory function at his residence at Mintokgang here today.

Addressing the media, the CM said that he would first like to thank his parents, followed by “all those who have been a part of this journey of more than two decades and the people of Sikkim for reposing their faith in me by giving their mandate for five record consecutive terms.”

Also thanking the central government and all the opposition parties, he highlighted his journey from a panchayat member to the CM. “Our government is still standing tall on the promises we had given to the people in the beginning. We are still working for the uplift of Sikkim and the Sikkimese. I do not do politics for my personal interest and agendas, but I do politics on the agendas of the public. I am not here just to form my government, but I am here to make the public the owners of the government. I want to make the people of Sikkim strong and independent. I want the Sikkimese to rule Sikkim,” he said.

Born on September 22, 1950, at Yangang, South Sikkim, to Asha Rani Chamling and Lt. Aash Bahadur, Pawan Chamling dropped out of school after matriculation. He started his political career at the age of 22.

Pawan Chamling served as the Minister for Industries, Information and Public Relations from 1989 to 1992 in the Nar Bahadur Bhandari cabinet. After a series of political upheavals in Sikkim, he formed the SDF in 1993.

People in huge numbers turned up at his residence yesterday to cheer for him.

The CM also paid his homage to Jyoti Basu on this occasion and said he was fortunate to have surpassed the former West Bengal chief minister’s record.

Basu, the five-term West Bengal CM, had been in power from June 21, 1977 to November 6, 2000. He handed over the baton to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in 2000, citing health reasons. Basu passed way in 2010 at the age of 95.

New zeal

“The political journey will continue in the same manner in the future. I feel I have not lost my energy in this journey, rather I have been working actively, positively and innovatively with each passing day for the welfare of my people, he added.

Won’t step down’

Asked if he had plans to voluntarily step down, he said he has no plans of “taking rest” at present. “My people love me, due to which I am still their CM, and will forever work for them, unless they ask me to leave,” Mr Chamling said.

Priorities

Asked what his further priorities would be, he said he would work more to provide peace, security, safety and happiness to the people of Sikkim.

Assembly seat demand

On the state’s demand with the Centre for increasing the assembly seat to 40, he said such a move would favour all the communities living in the state.

“At present, we have 12 seat reservations for BL, two for SC, one for Sangha and the remaining 17 are reserved as general seats. So if we stick to 32 seats and also provide five seats to the Limboo-Tamang community, it will be a big injustice to the non-tribal Nepali community as they will be getting to contest only in the remaining 17 seats despite being the larger section of the society,” he said.

No threats, challenges

Asked if there were threats and challenges, he said he does not see any threat. “I am fearless and with the love and support of my people, I can overcome any challenge in life,” he said.

Peace message

He drew comparisons of Sikkim during different times in the last 40 years, and how it has transformed into one of the most progressive states in the country. He reiterated that among several contributions of Sikkim to the nation and the world, “peace and security stand out as the biggest.”

“The whole world is dealing with issues of violence and insecurity, and here we have a state surrounded by three international borders, and is yet the most peaceful state in the country. This is an incredible feat achieved by our state, and other states like Jammu & Kashmir and even other Northeastern states should emulate this from Sikkim,” he said.