Rajya Sabha election in Sikkim will be held in the mid of January next. The Election Commission of India by a notification no. 318/CS-SKM/2018 (1) has called upon the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim to elect one member to the Council of States from Sikkim to fill the vacancy in that House. The term of office of Rajya Sabha MP from Sikkim Hishey Lachungpaon will expire on February 23 next. The Election Commission has asked to complete the election before January 22.
The Election Commission of India has fixed January 5 as the last date of filing nominations. Scrutiny of nominations will take place the next day, i.e., January 6. Last date for withdrawal of nomination is January 8.
Returning officer LM Pradhan in an official communiqué informed January 16 as the date on which a poll shall, if necessary, take place.
The Commission has fixed the hours from 9 AM to 4 PM as the hours during which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken for the biennial election. The venue of the poll will be the conference room of Sikkim legislative assembly secretariat, Nam Nang Road, Gangtok. Secretary, joint secretary and legal officer of Sikkim legislative assembly secretariat have been appointed as the returning officer and the assistant returning officers respectively.
Forms of nomination papers may be obtained from the office of returning officer or assistant returning officer from December 29, 2017. Duly filled in nomination papers are required to be delivered by the candidate or his proposer to the returning officer or to the assistant returning officer at the office of the secretary, Sikkim legislative assembly secretariat, Nam Nang Road, Gangtok between 11 AM to 3 PM.