The opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) on January 2 launched a month-long online campaign aimed at highlighting what it claims is the poor and deteriorating condition of roads across Sikkim, taking a direct swipe at the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and its governance record.
The campaign, titled ‘SKM Road Report’, will feature constituency-wise videos showcasing road conditions from different parts of the Himalayan state. According to the party, visual material will be released throughout January to present what it describes as the ground reality to the public.
SDF vice-president Suman Chamling said the initiative comes in the context of the SKM government’s much-publicised BIPASA promise — Bijli, Pani, Sadak (electricity, water and roads) — which was projected as a key pillar of its governance agenda. Nearly two years into the government’s tenure, he alleged, the condition of roads across Sikkim paints a contrasting picture.
“From rural interiors to urban areas, roads have been left neglected, posing serious safety risks and creating daily difficulties for commuters, students, patients and traders,” Chamling said, adding that poor road conditions have become a routine hardship for residents.
He said the SKM Road Report is an attempt to hold the present government accountable by bringing people’s lived experiences into the public domain. The SDF, he added, plans to systematically release visuals from every constituency to underline what it calls a growing gap between promises made and delivery on the ground.
“Infrastructure development cannot be limited to slogans and publicity,” Chamling said. “Roads are a basic necessity and a clear indicator of governance priorities.” He reiterated that the SDF would continue to raise public issues “in a responsible manner” while demanding accountability from those in power and standing “firmly with the people of Sikkim.”