Editor's Pick | BJP, SKM win big in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim Assembly polls

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) on June 2 recorded landslide victories to retain power for their third and second successive terms, in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim respectively. The BJP bagged 46 of the 60 seats in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, of which ten uncontested seats were already in its kitty. No other party fielded candidates against Chief Minister Pema Khandu in the Mukto constituency, his deputy Chowna Mein in Chowkham, as well as eight others. In Sikkim, the SKM won an unprecedented 31 of the 32 seats in the State Assembly, with Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang bagging two of them – Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung. The lone winner for the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, had switched over from the SKM ahead of the Assembly election after being denied the ticket. The SKM was a constituent of the BJP-helmed National Democratic Alliance, but the two parties had ended their partnership ahead of the April 19 election. Political observers said that Sunday’s outcome followed a pattern: the party that rules the State and at the Centre usually wins elections in Arunachal Pradesh. While the BJP did not face any anti-incumbency, it was also better organised at the grass-roots level, and faced hardly any opposition. The National People’s Party (NPP) won five seats –the same as in 2019 – it was only former Minister Kumar Waii who saved the Congress from a complete rout by winning the Bameng seat. The remaining seats were divided among the Nationalist Congress Party (three), the regional People’s Party of Arunachal (two) and Independents (three). The Sikkim election was expected to be a close contest between the SKM and the SDF. Instead, it turned out to be an almost complete sweep in favour of the SKM. Incumbent chief minister Prem Singh Tamang is also believed to have struck a chord with the voters by denying the party ticket to his son Aditya Tamang from the Soreng-Chakung seat, although his wife contested and won the Namchi-Singhithang constituency. 73-year-old former Chief Minister and SDF’s founder-president Pawan Kumar Chamling, lost comprehensively from two seats – Namcheybung and Poklok-Kamrang. Former ace footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, who merged his Hamro Sikkim Party with the SDF in 2023, lost the Barfung seat, his sixth electoral defeat since contesting on a Trinamool Congress ticket in 2014. The Hindu Editorial For a consensus: On campaigning rhetoric and foreign policy Nipped in the bud: On baby trafficking The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Which was the hottest year ever according to the World Meteorological Organization? 2019 2013 2016 2023 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 03 June 2024 [The Hindu logo] [EP Logo] Editor's Pick 03 June 2024 In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [View in browser]( [More newsletters]( BJP, SKM win big in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim Assembly polls [The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party]( and the [Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM)]( on June 2 recorded landslide victories to retain power for their third and second successive terms, in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim respectively. The BJP bagged 46 of the 60 seats in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, of which ten uncontested seats were already in its kitty. No other party fielded candidates against Chief Minister Pema Khandu in the Mukto constituency, his deputy Chowna Mein in Chowkham, as well as eight others. In Sikkim, the [SKM won an unprecedented 31 of the 32 seats]( in the State Assembly, with Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang bagging two of them – Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung. The lone winner for the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, had switched over from the SKM ahead of the Assembly election after being denied the ticket. The SKM was a constituent of the BJP-helmed National Democratic Alliance, but the two parties had ended their partnership ahead of the April 19 election. Political observers said that Sunday’s outcome followed a pattern: the party that rules the State and at the Centre usually wins elections in Arunachal Pradesh. While the BJP did not face any anti-incumbency, it was also better organised at the grass-roots level, and faced hardly any opposition. The National People’s Party (NPP) won five seats –the same as in 2019 – it was only former Minister Kumar Waii who saved the Congress from a complete rout by winning the Bameng seat. The remaining seats were divided among the Nationalist Congress Party (three), the regional People’s Party of Arunachal (two) and Independents (three). The Sikkim election was expected to be a close contest between the SKM and the SDF. Instead, it turned out to be an almost complete sweep in favour of the SKM. Incumbent chief minister Prem Singh Tamang is also believed to have struck a chord with the voters by denying the party ticket to his son Aditya Tamang from the Soreng-Chakung seat, although his wife contested and won the Namchi-Singhithang constituency. 73-year-old former Chief Minister and SDF’s founder-president Pawan Kumar Chamling, lost comprehensively from two seats – Namcheybung and Poklok-Kamrang. Former ace footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, who merged his Hamro Sikkim Party with the SDF in 2023, lost the Barfung seat, his sixth electoral defeat since contesting on a Trinamool Congress ticket in 2014. The Hindu Editorial [Arrow][For a consensus: On campaigning rhetoric and foreign policy]( [Arrow][Nipped in the bud: On baby trafficking]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Which was the hottest year ever according to the World Meteorological Organization? - 2019 - 2013 - 2016 - 2023 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here.]( [Sign up for free]( Today’s Best Reads [[Modi holds review meet on 100-day agenda implementation, as exit polls indicate a third term for NDA government] Modi holds review meet on 100-day agenda implementation, as exit polls indicate a third term for NDA government]( [[How do markets look at election results?] How do markets look at election results?]( [[India joins U.S.’s Red Flag air and RIMPAC naval exercises] India joins U.S.’s Red Flag air and RIMPAC naval exercises]( [[Enforcement Directorate uses Kejriwal case to push for stringent checks on grant of interim bail] Enforcement Directorate uses Kejriwal case to push for stringent checks on grant of interim bail]( Copyright© 2024, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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