The Sikkim Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the state of Sikkim, in Northeast India. The seat of the Legislative Assembly is at Gangtok, the capital of the state. The assembly sits for a term of five years, unless it is dissolved earlier. Sikkim is the second-smallest state in India, covering ; which accounts for 0.2 per cent of the total area of India. The current population of Sikkim is 6.32 lakhs (630,000), making it the least populous state in India. Established in 1975, the Sikkim Legislative Assembly consists of 32 members elected directly from single-seat constituencies using the first-past-the-post system.
Since the independence of India, the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and the Scheduled Castes (SC) and have been given reservation status, guaranteeing political representation, and the Constitution lays down the general principles of positive discrimination for SCs and STs. In Sikkim, the Scheduled Tribes primarily include the Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo and Tamang communities. Twelve constituencies are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. Among these, reservations are granted only to members of the Bhutia-Lepcha (BL) community. Despite being recognized as Scheduled Tribes in 2002, no seats have been reserved for the Limboo and Tamang communities in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. Two constituencies (West Pendam and Salghari–Zoom) are reserved for people of the Scheduled Castes (SC). One constituency (Sangha) is reserved for registered Buddhist monks and nuns from the state's monasteries.
History
The State Council was the legislature of the Kingdom of Sikkim until its merger with India in 1975. The members of the Council were deemed to be the new Legislative Assembly of the newly formed state.
+Changes in the constituencies of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly over timeYearEventExplanationTotal seatsReserved seatsElectionsBLSC Sangha1979Annexation of SikkimThe Kingdom of Sikkim was merged with India, becoming its 22nd state.3212211979, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1999, 20042008Delimitation Commission Order, 2008There was a redrawing of the constituency map without a change in the number of constituencies3212212009, 2014, 2019, 2024
Constituencies
Since its integration with India in 1979, the total number of seats in the assembly has been 32, including 1 seat reserved for the Sangha.
+Constituencies of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly#ConstituencynameReserved for(SC/BL/None) DistrictLok SabhaconstituencyElectors(2024) 1 Yoksam–Tashiding BL Gyalshing Sikkim 2 Yangthang None 3 Maneybong–Dentam 4 Gyalshing–Barnyak 5 Rinchenpong BL Soreng 6 Daramdin 7 Soreng–Chakung None 8 Salghari–Zoom SC 9 Barfung BL Namchi 10 Poklok–Kamrang None 11 Namchi–Singhithang 12 Melli 13 Namthang–Rateypani 14 Temi–Namphing 15 Rangang–Yangang 16 Tumin–Lingee BL 17 Khamdong–Singtam None Gangtok 18 West Pendam SC Pakyong 19 Rhenock None 20 Chujachen 21 Gnathang–Machong BL 22 Namchaybong None 23 Shyari BL Gangtok 24 Martam–Rumtek 25 Upper Tadong None 26 Arithang 27 Gangtok BL 28 Upper Burtuk None 29 Kabi–Lungchok BL Mangan 30 Djongu 31 Lachen–Mangan 32 Sangha Sangha Buddhist Monasteries
See also Sikkim Legislative Assembly List of chief ministers of Sikkim State legislative assemblies of India
Notes
References