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Sangha Assembly constituency is one of the 32 assembly constituencies of Sikkim, a state in the Northeast region of India. It is a part of the Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency. As of 2019, Sonam Lama is the holder of this seat. His current term is expected to end by 2024.

This seat is reserved for the Buddhist monastic community (Sangha) of Sikkim. Buddhist monks and nuns, registered with the 111 recognized monasteries in the state, are the only ones who can contest and cast their votes for this Assembly seat.

Members of the Sikkim State Council

The Sangha constituency was created in 1958 for the Sikkim State Council, after requests from the monastery associations to the Chogyal.

Members of the Legislative Assembly

After the 1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum, Sikkim became a state of India and the members of the State Council at the time, were deemed to be the Legislative Assembly of the new state of Sikkim.

Supreme Court case

In 1993, a case was brought in the Supreme Court of India, challenging the reservation for the Sangha constituency and for the Bhutia-Lepcha constituencies in Sikkim, by Ram Chandra Poudyal of the Rising Sun Party. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, judging that the Sangha had played a major part in previous Councils' decision-making and the reservation is not based purely on religious distinctions and is, therefore, not unconstitutional.

Election results

Assembly Election 2024

2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election : Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	SKM	Sonam Lama	1,919	60.01%	2.62
	BJP	Tseten Tashi Bhutia	1,054	32.96%	New
	SDF	Tshering Lama	114	3.56%	32.55
	Citizen Action Party-Sikkim	Norcho Lepcha	97	3.03%	New
Margin of victory			865	27.05%	0.53
Turnout			3,198	78.50%	6.34
Registered electors			4,074		23.72
	SKM hold		Swing	2.62

Assembly election 2019

2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	SKM	Sonam Lama	1,488	62.63%	12.76
	SDF	Tshering Lama	858	36.11%	8.07
	INC	Karma Tashi Bhutia	17	0.72%	4.20
	NOTA	None of the Above	13	0.55%	0.50
Margin of victory			630	26.52%	20.83
Turnout			2,376	72.15%	3.54
Registered electors			3,293		13.40
	SKM hold		Swing	12.76

Assembly election 2014

2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	SKM	Sonam Lama	1,096	49.86%	New
	SDF	Palden Lachungpa	971	44.18%	5.32
	INC	Tshering Lama	108	4.91%	41.80
	NOTA	None of the Above	23	1.05%	New
Margin of victory			125	5.69%	2.91
Turnout			2,198	75.69%	10.94
Registered electors			2,904		5.04
	SKM gain from SDF		Swing	0.37

Assembly election 2009

2009 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	SDF	Phetook Tshering Bhutia	980	49.49%	27.99
	INC	Tshering Lama	925	46.72%	14.39
	BJP	Samdup Dorjee Lama	75	3.79%	1.30
Margin of victory			55	2.78%	1.44
Turnout			1,980	64.75%	2.24
Registered electors			3,058
	SDF gain from INC		Swing

Assembly election 2004

2004 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	INC	Tshering Lama	675	32.33%	13.57
	Independent	Palden Lama	587	28.11%	New
	SDF	Namkha Gyaltse Bhutia	449	21.50%	New
	Independent	Thinley Gyatso Lepcha	310	14.85%	New
	BJP	Samdup Dorjee Lama	52	2.49%	New
	Independent	Sonam Dorjee	15	0.72%	New
Margin of victory			88	4.21%	43.38
Turnout			2,088	66.99%	7.02
Registered electors			3,117
	INC gain from Independent		Swing	34.02

Assembly election 1999

1999 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Palden Lama	1,309	66.35%	New
	INC	Namkha Gyaltsen Lama	370	18.75%	28.33
	SSP	Dorjee Dadul Lama	294	14.90%	New
Margin of victory			939	47.59%	39.98
Turnout			1,973	61.43%	7.18
Registered electors			3,290		6.61
	Independent gain from INC		Swing

Assembly election 1994

1994 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	INC	Namkha Gyaltsen Lama	767	47.08%	33.51
	SDF	Palden Lama	643	39.47%	New
	Independent	Sherab Dorji	150	9.21%	New
	Independent	Karma Tenpa	40	2.46%	New
	Independent	Tshering Lama	16	0.98%	New
	Independent	Danen Lama	13	0.80%	New
Margin of victory			124	7.61%	18.46
Turnout			1,629	54.02%	6.98
Registered electors			3,086		4.04
	INC gain from SSP		Swing	7.63

Assembly election 1989

1989 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	SSP	Nanjha Gyaltsen	806	54.72%	2.40
	Independent	Bazing	422	28.65%	New
	INC	Rikzing Lama	200	13.58%	34.10
	RIS	Pegyal	38	2.58%	New
Margin of victory			384	26.07%	21.42
Turnout			1,473	47.89%	13.92
Registered electors			3,216		40.07
	SSP hold		Swing	2.40

Assembly election 1985

1985 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election: Sangha

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	SSP	Namkha Gyaltsen	383	52.32%	New
	INC	Lachen Gomchen Rinpochi	349	47.68%	New
Margin of victory			34	4.64%	83.79
Turnout			732	31.88%	4.92
Registered electors			2,296		8.61
	SSP gain from Independent		Swing

Assembly election 1979

Sikkim State Council

1974

1973

In the 1973 election, Peyching Lama was elected unopposed.

1970

1967

See also

• List of constituencies of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly
• List of Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim
• Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency
• Reserved political positions in India

References

1. ^ Hamlet Bareh, ed. (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim. Vol. 7. Mittal Publications. p. 16. ISBN 9788170997948.
2. ^ Tashi Namgyal (16 March 1958). "Proclamation of His Highness Sir Tashi Namgyal, KCSI, KCIE, Maharaja of Sikkim, Dated the 16th March, 1958" (PDF). p. 102. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
3. "Vidhan Sabha Elections Sikkim 2019 - Voters Turnout Statistical Data" (PDF). ceosikkim.nic.in. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
4. "Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008" (PDF). 26 November 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
5. ^ "32-Sangha constituency: Sikkim's intangible seat, where only monks contest and vote". The Hindu. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
6. "32-Sangha Assembly constituency - One of its kind in the country". ceosikkim.nic.in. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
7. "Results of elections - 1958". Sikkim Darbar Gazette. 8 (7). December 1958.
8. Pem Choden Tenzing (July 2019). Monarchy to Democracy Understanding Political Development in Sikkim, 1970-1994 (Thesis). p. 149. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
9. ^ "Sikkim Darbar Gazette - Declaration of the Results of Election, 1967". 8 April 1967. pp. 67–68. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
10. "Sikkim Darbar Gazette - Declaration of the Results of Election, 1970". 14 May 1970. pp. 59–60. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
11. ^ Sunanda K Datta-Ray (1984). Smash And Grab - Annexation Of Sikkim. p. 166. Retrieved 15 June 2021. ...they were supported by Peyching Lama, who had been elected un-contested from the monasteries...
12. ^ P. K. Ghosh (30 April 1974). "General Election to Sikkim Assembly - Publication of Results of Election". pp. 70–71. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
13. ^ S. Balakrishnan. "Viewpoint: 'Sangha' Constituency - Sikkim's Unique Seat". thephoenixpostindia.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
14. ^ AC Sinha. "Chapter 8: Sikkim" (PDF). ...election to the State Assembly were held in April, 1974. With exception of one Lepcha-Bhotia seat to a nominee of Sikkim National Party, the remaining 31 seats were captured by the newly formed Sikkim Congress.
15. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1979 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
16. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1985 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
17. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1989 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
18. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1994 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
19. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1999 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
20. "Statistical Report on General Election, 2004 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
21. "Statistical Report on General Election, 2009 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
22. "Statistical Report on General Election, 2014 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
23. "State Election, 2019 to the legislative assembly of Sikkim". eci.gov.in. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
24. Joydeep Sen Gupta (6 April 2019). "Sikkim's Sangha Assembly seat is a perfect example of the state's unique political process to protect minority rights - Politics News". Firstpost. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
25. "R.C. Poudyal and ANR. Vs. Union of India and ORS" (PDF). main.sci.gov.in. 10 February 1993. Retrieved 20 January 2021. ...that the Sangha constituted a vital and important role in the life of the community in Sikkim and had played a major part in taking of decisions by the Councils in the past. The reservation of one seat for Sangha to be elected by an Electoral College of Lamaic monasteries is not based purely on religious distinctions and is, therefore, not unconstitutional as violative of Articles 15(1) and 325 of the Constitution.
26. "R.C. Poudyal & ANR Vs. Union of India & Ors (1993) INSC 77 (10 February 1993)". www.latestlaws.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
27. "Sikkim Assembly election results 2019: Full list of winners". Zee News. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
28. "Statistical Report on General Election, 2009 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
29. "Statistical Report on General Election, 2004 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
30. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1999 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
31. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1994 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
32. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1989 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
33. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1985 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
34. "Statistical Report on General Election, 1979 to the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
35. R. N. Sen Gupta (25 April 1974). "Election to Sikkim Assembly - Sangha Constituency". p. 68. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
36. "Election Department Notification:52/CE - Election results (1970)". 14 May 1970. pp. 64–65. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
37. Election Committee (17 January 1967). "List of people who filed nomination papers". p. 158. Retrieved 24 June 2021.

Further reading

• Sonam Wangdi Dorjee Bhutia (February 2020). Governance and Electoral Politics: A Study of Sangha Seat (PDF) (Thesis). Retrieved 1 February 2022.

27°33′N 88°30′E / 27.550°N 88.500°E / 27.550; 88.500

• Assembly constituencies of Sikkim
• 1958 establishments in Sikkim
• Constituencies established in 1958
• Politics of Sikkim