Pawan Chamling of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) is set to be re-elected as the chief minister of Sikkim.The ruling SDF has surged ahead of other states and secured comfortable majority according to the latest trends avilable. At the time of going to press, results were avilable for 22 of the 32 seats. SDF has bagged 18 of them, while Sikkim Krantikari Morcha(SKM) has won the rest four. Sitting chief minister Pawan Chamling won Namchi-Singhithang Assembly seat defeating Milan Rai of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) by 1,084 votes.
National parties like the Congress and BJP were yet to bag any seat until the last update available. As far as the vote share is concerned, SDF is way ahead, securing over 57% votes, while SKM has polled about 38%. SDF was leading in the lone Lok Sabha seat as well.
In 2009 Chamling-led SDF won all the 32 seats in the assembly, leaving the opposition seats empty.
Incidentally, with this victory Chamling, who is serving the state as chief minister since 1994, is set to become the longest running head of government of any Indian state. He is poised to brak the record of former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, who was in the office for 24 years.(BS Reporter)