View source for Sikkim Democratic Front

{{short description|Political party in India}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox Indian Political Party
| party_name = Sikkim Democratic Front
|colorcode  = {{party color|Sikkim Democratic Front}}
| party_logo = [[File:Sikkim-Democratic-Front-flag.svg|200px]]
| president  = [[Pawan Kumar Chamling]]
| secretary = 
| ppchairman =  
| loksabha_leader = 
| rajyasabha_leader = 
| foundation = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|p=y|1993|03|04}}
| alliance = 
*[[National Democratic Alliance]] (2014-2019)
*Federal Front (2019)
| loksabha_seats = {{Composition bar|0|543|hex={{party color|Sikkim Democratic Front}}}}
| rajyasabha_seats = {{Composition bar|0|245|hex={{party color|Sikkim Democratic Front}}}}
| state_seats_name  = [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly]]
| state_seats = {{Composition bar|0|32|hex={{party color|Sikkim Democratic Front}}}}
| ideology = 
| position =  
| headquarters =S.D.F Bhawan, Indira Byepass [[Gangtok]], Sikkim
| eci = State Party<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=9 May 2013|location=India|year=2013|archive-date=24 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024171915/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| publication = 
| symbol = [[File:Indian Election Symbol Umberlla.png|100px]]
| website = 
}}
'''Sikkim Democratic Front''' ('''SDF''')  is a regional political party in the [[India]]n [[states and territories of India|state]] of [[Sikkim]]. It was the ruling party in [[Sikkim]] from 12 December 1994 to 23 May 2019.

==History ==
The party was founded by [[Pawan Kumar Chamling]] in 1993. It has ruled the Sikkim state from 1994 to 2019 with Pawan Kumar Chamling as the [[Chief Minister (India)|chief minister]]. The party consolidated its position sweeping the 1999 and 2004 state elections. It won 31 of the 32 assembly seats in the 2004 election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/ElectionStatistics.asp |title=Election Commission India |access-date=2010-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005110118/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/ElectionStatistics.asp |archive-date=5 October 2010 |df=dmy-all }} Election Commission of India - Sikkim Assembly Elections</ref> In the 2009 assembly election, the party made a clean sweep, winning all 32 seats. It also retained the lone [[Lok Sabha]] seat.<ref>http://ceosikkim.nic.in/Index.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813085718/http://ceosikkim.nic.in/index.htm |date=13 August 2011 }} Election Results 2009</ref> In 2014 assembly elections, SDF won 22 seats and retained power.

In May 2016, after the BJP led NDA formed its first government in [[Assam]], a new alliance called the [[North-East Democratic Alliance]] (NEDA) was formed with BJP leader [[Himanta Biswa Sarma]] as its convener.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/sikkim-cm-wants-bjp-chief-to-step-in/articleshow/60383450.cms|title=Sikkim CM wants BJP chief to step in|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=6 September 2017|archive-date=7 September 2017|access-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907025043/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/sikkim-cm-wants-bjp-chief-to-step-in/articleshow/60383450.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The Chief Ministers of the north eastern states of [[Sikkim]], [[Assam]], Manipur, [[Arunachal Pradesh]] and [[Nagaland]] too belong to this alliance. Thus, the Sikkim Democratic Front joined the NDA led NEDA.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/amit-shah-holds-meeting-with-northeast-cms-forms-alliance/story-YDYLQ6YsImuzZOQ6Zev5MO.html|title = Amit Shah holds meeting with northeast CMS, forms alliance|date = 25 May 2016|access-date = 25 May 2016|archive-date = 26 May 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160526061921/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/amit-shah-holds-meeting-with-northeast-cms-forms-alliance/story-YDYLQ6YsImuzZOQ6Zev5MO.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

[[Pawan Kumar Chamling]] resigned as CM after [[2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election]] as former member [[Prem Singh Tamang]]'s [[Sikkim Krantikari Morcha]] party formed the government by winning 17 seats out of 32. SDF party won the remaining 15 seats. But in August 2019, 10 MLAs quit his party to join the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and in the same month two other legislators joined [[Sikkim Krantikari Morcha]]. Thus making [[Pawan Kumar Chamling]] the only MLA of his party.<ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjp-now-main-opposition-party-in-sikkim-even-without-winning-a-single-seat/articleshow/70657139.cms?from=mdr BJP now main opposition party in Sikkim even without winning a single seat]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/10-sdf-legislators-switch-over-to-bjp/story-qKcQJuqMqn2jbnoE1juggK.html |title=10 SDF legislators switch over to BJP |access-date=8 October 2019 |archive-date=8 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008081602/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/10-sdf-legislators-switch-over-to-bjp/story-qKcQJuqMqn2jbnoE1juggK.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/ten-sdf-mlas-join-bjp-sikkim-may-be-headed-towards-arunachal-pradesh-route-as-mass-crossovers-leave-ex-cm-in-the-lurch-7165761.html |title=Ten SDF MLAs join BJP: Sikkim may be headed towards Arunachal Pradesh route, as mass crossovers leave ex-CM in the lurch |access-date=8 October 2019 |archive-date=1 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201142130/https://www.firstpost.com/politics/ten-sdf-mlas-join-bjp-sikkim-may-be-headed-towards-arunachal-pradesh-route-as-mass-crossovers-leave-ex-cm-in-the-lurch-7165761.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The party won only 1 seat in the [[2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election]], with former CM [[Pawan Kumar Chamling]] losing the election from both the seats he contested. Later, its only MLA defected to [[Sikkim Krantikari Morcha]], thus reducing its strength in the legislative assembly to zero.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2024-07-10 |title=Lone SDF MLA in Sikkim Assembly Tenzing Norbu Lamtha joins ruling SKM |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sikkim/lone-sdf-mla-in-sikkim-assembly-tenzing-norbu-lamtha-joins-ruling-skm/article68388258.ece |access-date=2024-07-10 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=28 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128103349/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sikkim/lone-sdf-mla-in-sikkim-assembly-tenzing-norbu-lamtha-joins-ruling-skm/article68388258.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Frontal Organisation==
*Youth Wing
*Student's Wing
*Women's Wing
*Labour Wing
*Cultivators and Organic Farmers Wing
*Ex-servicemen Wing
*Scheduled Tribe Welfare Wing
*Scheduled Caste Welfare Wing
*Drivers Wing
*Traders Wing

== List of Chief Minister ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!scope=col| №
!scope=col| Name
!scope=col colspan=2| Term
!scope=col| Tenure
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
| 1
 | [[Pawan Kumar Chamling]]<br /><small>(MLA from [[Namchi-Singhithang (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Namchi-Singhithang]])</small>
 | 12 December 1994
 | 23 May 2019
 |{{Age in years and days|1994|12|12|2019|5|23}} 
|-
|}

== Electoral records ==
; [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly]] election
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year || Total Seats || Seats Contested || Seats Won || Forfeited Deposits || % Votes contested || Source
|-
| [[1994 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|1994]] || 32 || 32 || 19  || 1 || 42.00 || <ref>{{cite web|title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1994 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/3360-sikkim-1994/|publisher=ECI|access-date=18 November 2019|year=1994|archive-date=17 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317191039/https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/3360-sikkim-1994/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[1999 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|1999]] || 32 || 31 || 24 || 0 || 52.83 || <ref>{{cite web|title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1999 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/3361-sikkim-1999/|publisher=ECI|access-date=25 November 2019|year=1999}}</ref>
|-
| [[2004 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2004]] || 32 || 32 || 31 || 0 || 71.09 || <ref>{{cite web|title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2004 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/3363-sikkim-2004/|publisher=ECI|access-date=18 November 2019|year=2004}}</ref>
|-
| [[2009 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2009]] || 32 || 32 || 32 || 0 || 67.52 || <ref>{{cite web|title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2009 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/3364-sikkim-2009/|publisher=ECI|access-date=31 October 2019|year=2009}}</ref>
|-
| [[2009 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2009]] (by-election) || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 80.77 || <ref>{{cite news|title=SDF's Binod Rai wins by securing 4930 votes|url=http://sikkimnews.blogspot.com/2009/09/sdfs-binod-rai-wins-by-securing-4930.html|newspaper=The Sikkim Times|access-date=2 November 2019|date=25 October 2019|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501151931/http://sikkimnews.blogspot.com/2009/09/sdfs-binod-rai-wins-by-securing-4930.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2014]] || 32 || 32 || 22 || 0 || 56.74 || <ref>{{cite web|title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2014 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SIKKIM|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/3365-sikkim-2014/|publisher=ECI|access-date=25 November 2019|year=2014|archive-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609073155/https://eci.gov.in/files/file/3365-sikkim-2014/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2014 (by-election) || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 43.68 || <ref>{{cite web|title=Bye Election Result 2014: Sikkim Rangang-Yangang-15|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/2755-bye-election-result-2014-sikkim-rangang-yangang-15/|publisher=ECI|access-date=26 November 2019|year=2014}}</ref>
|-
| 2017 (by-election) || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 90.15 || <ref>{{cite web|title=Bye Election Result 2017: Sikkim 28- Upper Burtuk (AC)|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/2600-bye-election-result-2017-sikkim-28-upper-burtuk-ac/|publisher=ECI|access-date=18 November 2019|year=2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2019]] || 32 || 32 || 15 || 0 || 47.63 || <ref>{{cite news|title=SKM ends Chamling's 25-year rule|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article27321226.ece|newspaper=FRONTLINE|access-date=26 November 2019|date=7 June 2019|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923162436/https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article27321226.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2019 (by-election) || 3 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 15.18 || <ref>{{cite news|title=Final result of Poklok-Kamrang bye-poll|url=https://www.facebook.com/sikkimexpress/photos/a.130585913754096/1943209899158346/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/129055160573838/1943209899158346 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|newspaper=Sikkim Express (Facebook)|access-date=22 November 2019|date=25 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Final result of Martam-Rumtek bye-poll|url=https://www.facebook.com/sikkimexpress/photos/a.130585913754096/1943209539158382/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/129055160573838/1943209539158382 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|newspaper=Sikkim Express (Facebook)|access-date=19 November 2019|date=25 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Final result of Gangtok bye-poll|url=https://www.facebook.com/sikkimexpress/photos/a.130585913754096/1943209019158434/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/129055160573838/1943209019158434 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|newspaper=Sikkim Express (Facebook)|access-date=22 November 2019|date=25 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|-
| [[2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2024]] || 32 || 32 || 1 || 5 || 27.37 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Sikkim: इन गारंटियों के चलते सिक्किम ने तमांग पर बरसाया अपार 'प्रेम'; 11 साल में ऐसे अपने गुरु को कर दिया पस्त |url=https://www.amarujala.com/election/sikkim-election-result-2024-vote-counting-assembly-chunav-party-wise-win-lose-seats-news-in-hindi-2024-06-02 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi |archive-date=21 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721111131/https://www.amarujala.com/election/sikkim-election-result-2024-vote-counting-assembly-chunav-party-wise-win-lose-seats-news-in-hindi-2024-06-02 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 June 2024 |title=General Election to Assembly Constituencies: Trends & Results June-2024 |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/AcResultGen2ndJune2024/partywiseresult-S21.htm |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=Election Commission of India |archive-date=2 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602085710/https://results.eci.gov.in/AcResultGen2ndJune2024/partywiseresult-S21.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

; [[Sikkim (Lok Sabha constituency)|Lok Sabha election, Sikkim]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year
! Total Seats
! Seats Contested
! Seats Won
! Forfeited Deposits
! % Votes contested
! Source
|-
| [[1996 Indian general election|1996]]
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 72.15
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1996/Vol_I_LS_96.pdf|title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 1996 to the Eleventh Lok Sabha|page=385|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718183504/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1996/Vol_I_LS_96.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[1998 Indian general election|1998]]
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 65.72
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf|title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 1998 to the Twelfth Lok Sabha|page=233| publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718181833/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[1999 Indian general election|1999]]
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 52.56
| <ref name=BPD3>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf|title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 1999 to the Thirteenth Lok Sabha|page=224| publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718183222/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[2004 Indian general election|2004]]
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 69.84
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf|title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 2004 to the Fourteenth Lok Sabha|page=281|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718190634/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[2009 Indian general election|2009]]
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 63.30
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/25_ConstituencyWiseDetailedResult.pdf|title=Constituency Wise Detailed Results|page=122|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811090059/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/25_ConstituencyWiseDetailedResult.pdf|archive-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 52.98
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS211.htm?ac=1|title=Constituencywise-All Candidates|publisher=Election Commission of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517135150/http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS211.htm?ac=1|archive-date=17 May 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[2019 Indian general election|2019]]
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 43.92
| <ref>{{cite news|title=Sikkim Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Live|url=https://www.news18.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019/sikkim/sikkim-election-result-s21p01/|newspaper=News 18|access-date=20 November 2019|date=27 May 2019|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004013143/https://www.news18.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019/sikkim/sikkim-election-result-s21p01/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[2024 Indian general election|2024]]
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 20.05
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 June 2024 |title=Parliamentary Constituency 1 - Sikkim (Sikkim) |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/ConstituencywiseS211.htm |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=[[Election Commission of India]] |archive-date=4 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604120138/https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/ConstituencywiseS211.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

==See also==
* [[List of political parties in India]]
* [[Assembly Election Results of Sikkim|Elections in Sikkim]]

==External links==
* [http://ceosikkim.nic.in/ Chief Electoral Officer, Sikkim]
* [https://sikkimassembly.org.in/ Sikkim Assembly, Sikkim]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{North-East Democratic Alliance}}

{{Indian political parties}}

[[Category:Sikkim Democratic Front| ]]
[[Category:Political parties in Sikkim]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1993]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Sikkim]]