Bhaichung Bhutia-headed Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) on Monday decided to hit the road running for the 2024 Sikkim Assembly elections by launching its “Sikkim Awakening Movement” with a promise to provide a “true alternative” to the established political parties and solve many problems of the state.

Latest to take to election mode after the main Opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), the HSP said it would carry out a house-to-house campaign to create awareness of the party’s resolve to fulfil demands like reservation of seats in the Assembly, implementation of Inner-Line Permit (ILP), protection of Article 371F and infrastructure development.

“I would like to announce that Hamro Sikkim Party will begin its Sikkim Awakening Movement with the motto of ‘United Sikkimese for United Sikkim’... Only a true alternative can offer true solutions and not these traditional politicians,” said Bhaichung, the HSP president and football great.

Bhaichung said if voted to power in 2024, his party would also provide free education to all, free electricity, crime-free and corruption-free Sikkim and sustainable development in all fields.

“We have made a resolution to provide a true alternative to the people of Sikkim.... These issues are perennial but basic in any society, yet our politicians have failed to solve them,” he said.

Stating that the established parties had proved incapable of providing community-based reservation in the Assembly, Bhaichung vowed his party would deliver on this.

“If we are elected to power in 2024, we promise to deliver a solution that will be fair to all communities without taking away anyone’s due rights,” he said.

The HSP said implementation of the ILP was extremely essential to rid Sikkim of problems like crime, illegal influx, falsification of documents and growing unemployment. “HSP remains committed to the ILP and we have taken a resolution to implement it keeping the interest of all communities of Sikkim,” said Bhaichung.

On Article 371F, which provides special status to Sikkim, the HSP said: “Sikkim’s political autonomy stems from its status as a protected state under Article 371F of the Indian Constitution. The HSP has taken a resolution to uphold and follow Article 371F in letter and spirit.”

Bhaichung had formed the HSP in 2018, a year before the 2019 Assembly elections. It, however, drew a blank in the polls that were won by the SKM by piping the SDF 17-15 in the 32-member Assembly. The SDF, too, has been in election mode for 2024 with its over a month-long “Save Sikkim” campaign.