Sikkim by-elections record average voter turnout of 68%

Gangtok: Sikkim witnessed an average voter turnout of 68.37% in the by-elections of three constituencies — Poklok Kamrang, Gangtok and Rumtek-Martam — that were held in the state on Monday.

Out of total 15,695 voters in Poklok-Kamrang (South Sikkim), 6,520 male and 6,124 female voters turned out to cast their votes, accounting for a turnout of 80.56%. Meanwhile, for the Martam-Rumtek in East Sikkim, of the total 16,951 voters, 6,317 male and 5,989 female voters turned out. It ended on an average polling of 72.60%.

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The Gangtok constituency recorded the lowest turnout of 51.97%, where out of 11,752 voters, 3,316 male and 2,792 female exercised their franchise.

A total of 15 candidates from different political parties and independent candidates contested in the by-polls from all the three seats. The counting is scheduled to take place on October 24.

The by-elections witnessed zero violence and was conducted smoothly.

Despite the chaotic political scenario where MLAs changed parties as per their convenience and last moment SKM-BJP alliance, both leading to the backdoor entry of BJP, voters from all age groups turned out to vote in Sikkim by-elections.