Biraj Adhikari
Adhikari in 2019
President of the SNPP
In office
10 October 2008 – 6 August 2018
Succeeded byDelay Namgyal Barfungpa
Personal details
Born(1961-06-12)12 June 1961
Died7 March 2024(2024-03-07) (aged 62)
Gangtok, Sikkim, India
Political partyINC (SPCC, until 2006)
SHRP (2006–2008)
SNPP (2008–2018)
HSP (from 2018)

Biraj Adhikari (12 June 1961 – 7 March 2024) was an Indian politician. Born in Sikkim, Adhikari first became the general secretary of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, a branch of the Indian National Congress. Adhikari then joined the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad, followed by forming and becoming president of the Sikkim National People's Party. He also took part in several elections in the state of Sikkim as part of these parties and the Hamro Sikkim Party, before retiring from active politics a few months prior to his death in March 2024.

Political career

Adhikari was the general secretary of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC), a Sikkim branch of the Indian National Congress (INC) led by Nar Bahadur Bhandari.[1] In 2004, as the candidate of the INC, Adhikari contested the sole Lok Sabha seat from Sikkim, but was defeated by a candidate from the ruling party Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).[1]

In May 2006, because of discontent with Bhandari's leadership, Adhikari left the SPCC.[2] Thereafter, he joined and served as the spokesperson of the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP).[3] Adhikari was then removed from the SHRP in October 2008, and on 10 October, he established and was elected president of the Sikkim National People's Party (SNPP).[4]

Adhikari took part in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly election of 2009, contesting from two constituencies, Rhenock and Chujachen. However, SNPP could not be registered in the List of Political Parties of Election Commission of India (ECI) before the election period,[5] as a result, Adhikari and other SNPP candidates ran as independent candidates. They received 6.26% votes or less in each constituency.[6]

In 2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Adhikari and the SNPP did not contest the election,[7] though in January 2018, Adhikari announced that SNPP would contest the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Election 2019.[8] However, in August that year, Adhikari transferred and was appointed as spokesperson of the Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) which was led by Bhaichung Bhutia.[9][10] Delay Namgyal Barfungpa did not follow Adhikari, and Barfungpa was elected to the new SNPP president by party members.[11]

In both 2019 Sikkim Lok Sabha Election and 2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election (Rhenock constituency), Adhikari stood as the candidate of HSP, losing in both elections.[12][13]

On 30 August 2023, Adhikari resigned from HSP due to health issues, including cancer.[14]

Death

Biraj Adhikari died at a hospital in Manipal, Tadong, Gangtok on 7 March 2024, at the age of 62. He had been hospitalised since February 2024 and had retired from active politics due to health issues.[15]

Electoral record

Sikkim Legislative Assembly election
Year Constituency Political Party Result Position Votes % Votes % Margin Deposit Source
2009 Rhenock IND Lost 3rd/5 225 2.16 −51.56 forfeited [6]
2009 Chujachen IND Lost 8th/8 71 0.66 −73.69 forfeited [6]
2019 Rhenock HSP Lost 6th/7 85 0.60 −55.84 forfeited [16]
Lok Sabah election, Sikkim
Year Constituency Political Party Result Position Votes % Votes % Margin Deposit Source
2004 Sikkim INC Lost 2nd/4 60,258 27.43 −42.41 refunded [17]
2019 Sikkim HSP Lost 6th/10 1,998 0.57 −46.89 forfeited [18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Senior Sikkim politician Biraj Adhikari passes away, CM express grief". Northeast Live. 7 March 2024. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Seven from Sikkim quit Congress". The Telegraph. 28 May 2006. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  3. ^ "SHRP demands white paper on rights of Limboo-Tamang". oneindia. 17 February 2008. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  4. ^ Srivastava, Aaku (6 September 2022). Sensex Of Regional Parties: Sensex Of Regional Parties by Aaku Srivastava: Understanding the Dynamics of Regional Politics in India. Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 978-93-5521-236-8.
  5. ^ "Political Parties And Election Symbols as on 14-03-2009". ECI. 14 March 2009. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019. Meanwhile, SJEP could be registered in this List as the No. 894.
  6. ^ a b c "Statistical Report on General Election, 2009 to the Legislative Assembly or Sikkim". ECI. 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  7. ^ "SNPP to contest 2019 Sikkim assembly polls". India Today. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  8. ^ "SNPP to contest 2019 Sikkim assembly polls". Business Standard. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Sikkim: State politicians, K.N. Upreti & Biraj Adhikari joins HSP". The Northeast Today. 6 August 2018. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  10. ^ "K.N. Upreti & Biraj Adhikari joins Hamro Sikkim Party". Sikkim Express. 6 August 2018. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Delay Namgyal is new SNPP president". Sikkim Express. 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Sikkim Election Results, Sikkim Lok Sabha Election Results 2019, Live Polls Coverage, Voting Count of Sikkim". India.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Sikkim Assembly and parliament results live | Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling wins both Assembly seats". The Hindu. 22 May 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Senior Sikkim Politician and HSP General Secretary Biraj Adhikari resigns from party due to health reasons". Northeast Live. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Senior Sikkim politician Biraj Adhikari passes away, CM express grief". Northeast Live. 7 March 2024. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Rhenock Election Result 2019 Live Counting". Firstpost. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Statistical Report on General Elections, 2004 to the Fourteenth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 281. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Sikkim Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Live". News 18. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
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