Gangtok, June 2: Prem Singh Tamang, the incumbent Chief Minister of Sikkim and leader of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has won the elections from the Rhenock Assembly seat.

Tamang defeated Som Nath Poudyal by over 7,000 votes. The Sikkim Chief Minister received 10,094 votes while Poudyal got 3,050 votes.

Meanwhile, the ruling SKM is set to return to power with a thumping majority. According to the latest trends, SKM candidates have won 16 seats while the party is leading in another 15 seats. The halfway mark in the Sikkim assembly is 17 seats.

The Opposition party Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) is leading in only one constituency. Five-time former Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling has been trailing behind the ruling party SKM’s candidate Bhoj Raj Rai as per the latest trends in the counting of votes.

Elections in Sikkim were held April 19 and the counting of votes began at 6 am Saturday.

Apart from SKM and SDF, candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and Citizen Action Party-Sikkim (CAP-S) were also in the fray during the Sikkim elections 2024.

The majority of the exit polls predicted that SKM will retain power in the state with a substantial majority.

(IANS)

Read more: Election news