Former Indian football team captain and Sikkim's celebrated sports icon Bhaichung Bhutia, declared his departure from political endeavors on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, following his electoral setback in the recent state assembly polls.
In 2018, Bhutia ventured into state politics by founding the Hamro Sikkim Party, which later amalgamated with the Pawan Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).
In a statement, Bhutia extended his congratulations to Sikkim Chief Minister P S Tamang and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) for their resounding victory in the assembly elections.
Expressing his realisation post the 2024 poll results, he affirmed that electoral politics was not his calling, leading to his immediate withdrawal from all electoral activities.
Having previously contested the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and subsequently the Siliguri constituency in the 2016 West Bengal assembly polls under the Trinamool Congress banner, Bhutia's electoral journey met with mixed results.
Despite his efforts in the 2019 Sikkim assembly elections and subsequent by-elections, victory eluded him, culminating in his defeat in the 2024 assembly elections by a margin of 4,346 votes to the SKM.
Reflecting on his vision for sports and tourism development in Sikkim, Bhutia expressed a sense of unfulfilled aspiration, stating, "Given the opportunity, I would have endeavored sincerely to implement developmental ideas for the state."
However, he acknowledged the electorate's decision and expressed confidence in others with better strategies to lead the state forward.
Throughout his political tenure, Bhutia remained steadfast in his commitment to serving the people of Sikkim and the nation, underscoring his noble intentions in the realm of public service.
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