Politics Society and Development

The democratic ethos in Sikkim is now nearly three and half decades old. Until 1975, this Himalayan state was under the rule of Namgyal dynasty which lasted for more than 300 years. The end of Namgyal administration led to the change in the political system of the state from centralised monarchical to liberal democratic system. This change indeed had its impact on the society economy and polity of the region. Sikkim’s progress towards democracy and stability was marked by two historic developments first the introduction of electoral system based on adult suffrage and second was the abolition of the institution of monarchy in 1970s. The constitutional changes that took place following the 1973 uprising and Government of Sikkim Act 1974 led to a dramatic change in political and economic institutions that had important implications for the future of democracy. The change in political institutions led to the formation of representative government which ensures greater participation of people in the decision making processes. The Government of Sikkim Act 1974 removed many of the worst inequities under the old political system where only few aristocrats and nobles were the part of the governmental system. The act also established the right to vote based uniformly on the basis of universal adult suffrage. The postmerger Sikkim paid special attention in different directions with necessary measures to make its society modern and developed.