Gangtok: D.B. Chauhan, the president of the
Sikkim unit of the BJP, on Friday indicated that there was a possibility of
Bhaichung Bhutia joining the party but a close aide to the former Indian
football captain, who had already made public the name of the party he proposed
to launch in Sikkim soon, promptly denied such a move.
Chauhan told a press conference here that both
the BJP's central and state party leaderships were in talks with Bhutia and the
party was very keen on having a relationship with him. "We will be able
tell the exact equation, whether he will join the BJP or have an alliance with
us, by September or October. We don't, however want to miss him," he said.
The Sikkim BJP president prefaced that by hailing
Bhutia as a national celebrity.
Dilip Rai, a close aide to Bhutia, however, said
no such talks had taken place within the group helming the Hamro Sikkim Party,
which is the name of the party that is yet to be formally launched.
"Bhaichung is one of the members of the
party, which is yet to be launched. No such talks have taken place within the
group. The BJP president must be giving his own opinion. We have nothing say to
it," he said.
Political circles here though are agog with
speculation that Bhutia indeed is eyeing some kind of relationship with the BJP
in order to mount a serious challenge to the ruling Sikkim Democratic Party in
the next Assembly elections, which are due in the middle of next year.
"Bhutia enjoys very good relationship with some BJP leaders at the Centre,
particularly Kiren Rijiju, the Union minister of state for home. He knows it
will be difficult to take on the SDF behemoth, which has been in power in
Sikkim for close to 25 years, on his own and a tie-up with a party like BJP
would be of massive help. The BJP, too, wants to extend its foothold in Sikkim
after managing to come to power in other northeastern states in alliance with
local parties there," said an analyst.
Chauhan also took on the SDF president and Sikkim
chief minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, for referring to the BJP as a party from
outside. "In a democratic country like ours, how can he (Chamling) call
BJP a party from outside? What is he trying to suggest? Is Sikkim not part of
India? We not only condemn such a remark, but would seek an explanation from
the chief minister," he said.
Chamling, in his speeches, never refers to BJP by
name, but calls it a "party from outside". Ironically, SDF is part of
the North-East Democratic Alliance, the BJP-fronted political coalition.
Chauhan said his party was also willing to have a
pre-poll alliance with other parties who are willing to work in the interest of
SIkkimese people. The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), which is the main
opposition party in the state, also holds a similar view.
The Telegraph