Political activities in Sikkim have gained momentum on the last day of filing nomination papers for the simultaneous election of the lone Lok Sabha seat and 32 seats of the State Legislative Assembly which is scheduled to be held in the first phase on the 19th of the next month.

Incumbent State Chief Minister and ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha(SKM) leader Prem Singh Tamang, and former Chief Minister and Sikkim Democratic Front(SDF) leader Pawan Kumar Chamling have filed their nomination papers today for the State Assembly election.

As many as 18 candidates of different political parties filed their nomination papers yesterday. Among the prominent candidates who had filed their nomination papers included incumbent State Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, and Sonam Lama from the ruling SKM, former Minister Sonam Gyatcho Lepcha from SDF, Narendra Kumar Subba from BJP, Ganesh Kumar Rai, the Chief Ministerial candidate of CAP. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held tomorrow and the last date of withdrawal of nomination papers is on the 30th of this month.

The ruling SKM and opposition parties the SDF and the CAP are fielding their candidates in all the 32 seats of the State assembly, BJP in 31 seats and Congress in 18 seats. The ruling SKM, SDF, CAP, BJP, Congress and an independent candidate are in the electoral battle for the lone Lok Sabha seat of the State.