GUWAHATI: Bhaichung Bhutia, the iconic Indian footballer and vice president of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), has announced his departure from politics following another defeat in the recent Sikkim assembly elections. This marks Bhutia’s sixth electoral defeat.
Bhutia, revered as one of India’s greatest football players, ventured into politics in 2014. He was initially nominated by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as its candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.
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Despite his high-profile candidacy, he lost to the BJP. Undeterred, Bhutia contested the 2016 West Bengal assembly elections from the Siliguri constituency under the TMC banner but was defeated again, this time by a CPI(M) candidate.
In 2018, seeking to make a direct impact in his home state, he founded the Hamro Sikkim Party. Despite his efforts, Bhutia faced two losses in the 2019 Sikkim assembly elections and another defeat in the Gangtok assembly by-election later that year.
His most recent electoral loss came when he ran for the Barfung seat in the Sikkim assembly elections, where he was defeated by SKM's Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia by 4,346 votes. In his statement, Bhutia congratulated Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and its leader, PS Tamang, for their resounding victory.
He expressed hope that the SKM government would fulfill its promises and lead Sikkim to greater heights. Despite his political setbacks, Bhutia has always been passionate about the development of sports and tourism in Sikkim.
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He lamented not having the opportunity to implement his ideas for the state’s growth. He also expressed optimism that others would carry forward the vision for Sikkim's development.
