GANGTOK: Former Indian football captain
Bhaichung Bhutia, along with some politicians and professionals from Sikkim, on Thursday announced the formation of their regional party Hamro Sikkim. Hamro means ‘ours’ in Nepali language.
The announcement ends all speculation over Bhutia’s next political move after he quit the
Trinamool Congress on February 26. Bhutia, addressing a media conference at the
Press Club of India in New Delhi, said: “This party has been formed by the people of Sikkim and we dedicate it to them. I am not here to become the party president or the chief minister but to inspire the people in Sikkim and the country to join politics. Good people should come forward in order to cleanse politics.”
Bhutia touched upon a number of pressing issues of the hill state, including ‘massive corruption’ under the Pawan Chamling-led Sikkim
Democratic Front government. “Corruption is a major problem in Sikkim but the government has barred CBI from investigating. We also have the second highest unemployment rate and the highest suicide rate in the country, which need to be addressed,” he said.
Insiders said Hamro Sikkim will be launched in Sikkim within May, when the names of post-holders and executive members will be announced. The wedges between Bhutia, a native of Tinkitam in
South Sikkim, and
Trinamool had deepened irreversibly during the 104-day Darjeeling strife.
Bhaichung Bhutia wants to inspire people to join politics