Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) president Bhaichung Bhutia on Friday came down heavily on P. S. Tamang (Golay), saying the latter had become a weak chief minister because of his alleged backdoor entry.

At a news meet in Gangtok, Bhutia accused Golay of being a “puppet”. Although the former football star didn’t name the party allegedly pulling the strings of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) government, it was clear he meant the BJP.

“The present chief minister Mr P.S. Golay has become a very weak chief minister for Sikkim because of his backdoor entry. Sikkim is in grave danger because of his being a puppet CM...,” said Bhutia.

Citing one nation, one ration scheme and the CAA in Sikkim, Bhutia suggested they were detrimental to Sikkim, which enjoys special Constitutional status under Article 371F.

Bhutia’s “backdoor entry” jibe referred to how Golay became the CM after his party’s slender victory in the 2019 election. He was barred from contesting any election for six years after serving a year’s sentence in a corruption case, but his debarment was reduced to a little over a year by the Election Commission before the bypoll he won. The EC relief came a day after his party sealed an alliance for the bypoll with the BJP.