Sangha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)

Sangha (Vidhan Sabha constituency) is one of the 32 assembly constituencies of Sikkim, a north east state of India. This constituency falls under Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency.[4][5] As of 2014, Sonam Lama is the holder of this seat. His current term is expected to end by 2024.

Sangha
Constituency
for the Sikkim Legislative Assembly
StateSikkim
Electorate3,293[1]
Lok Sabha ConstituencySikkim
Current constituency
Created1958 [2]
Seats1
PartySikkim Krantikari Morcha
MLASonam Lama
ReservationSangha[3]
Last election2019
Ex MLAPhetooktsh Bhutia

This seat is reserved for the Buddhist monastic community (Sangha) of Sikkim.[3] Buddhist monks and nuns, registered with the 111 recognized monasteries in the State,[6] are the only ones who can contest and cast their votes for this Assembly seat.[3] This constituency was first created in 1958, for the Sikkim State Council.[2]

Members of Sikkim State Council
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Year Member Party
1958Sikkim National Party[2]
1967
1970
1973Sikkim National Party[2]
1974Karma Gompu Lama[7]Sikkim National Congress[8]

Members of Legislative Assembly

After the 1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum, Sikkim became a state of India and the members of the State Council at the time, were deemed to be the Legislative Assembly of the new State of Sikkim.

Year Member Party
1974Karma Gompu Lama[7]Sikkim National Congress[8]
1979Lhachen Ganchen RimpuchhiIndependent
1985Namkha Gyaltsen[7]Sikkim Sangram Parishad
1989
1994Indian National Congress
1999Palden LamaIndependent
2004Tshering LamaIndian National Congress
2009Phetooktsh BhutiaSikkim Democratic Front
2014Sonam LamaSikkim Krantikari Morcha
2019

Supreme Court Case

In 1993, a case was brought in the Supreme Court of India, challenging the reservation for the Sangha constituency and for the Bhutia-Lepcha constituencies in Sikkim, by Ram Chandra Poudyal[9] of the Rising Sun Party. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, judging that the Sangha had played a major part in previous Councils decision-making and the reservation is not based purely on religious distinctions and is, therefore, not unconstitutional.[10][11]

Election Results

2019
2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SKM Sonam Lama 1,488 62.63
SDF Tshering Lama 858 36.11
INC Karma Tashi Bhutia 17 0.72
NOTA Nota 13 0.55
Turnout 2,376 72.15
SKM hold Swing

See also

References
  1. "Vidhan Sabha Elections Sikkim 2019 - Voters Turnout Statistical Data" (PDF). ceosikkim.nic.in. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  2. Hamlet Bareh, ed. (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim. 7. Mittal Publications. p. 16. ISBN 9788170997948.
  3. "32-Sangha constituency: Sikkim's intangible seat, where only monks contest and vote". The Hindu. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. Sangha Assembly Constituency Elections
  5. THE DELIMITATION ACT, 2002
  6. "32-Sangha Assembly Constituency - One of its kind in the country". ceosikkim.nic.in. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  7. S. Balakrishnan. "Viewpoint: 'Sangha' Constituency - Sikkim's Unique Seat". thephoenixpostindia.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  8. AC Sinha. "Chapter 8: Sikkim" (PDF). ...election to the State Assembly were held in April, 1974. With exception of one Lepcha-Bhotia seat to a nominee of Sikkim National Party, the remaining 31 seats were captured by the newly formed Sikkim Congress.
  9. Joydeep Sen Gupta (6 April 2019). "Sikkim's Sangha Assembly seat is a perfect example of the state's unique political process to protect minority rights - Politics News". Firstpost. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  10. "R.C. Poudyal and ANR. Vs. Union of India and ORS" (PDF). main.sci.gov.in. 10 February 1993. Retrieved 20 January 2021. ...that the Sangha constituted a vital and important role in the life of the community in Sikkim and had played a major part in taking of decisions by the Councils in the past. [...] The reservation of one seat for Sangha to be elected by an Electoral College of Lamaic monasteries is not based purely on religious distinctions and is, therefore, not unconstitutional as violative of Articles 15(1) and 325 of the Constitution.
  11. "R.C. Poudyal & ANR Vs. Union of India & Ors (1993) INSC 77 (10 February 1993)". www.latestlaws.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  12. "Election Commission of India, State Election,2019 to the legislative assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 17 January 2021.

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