Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia met Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang in Gangtok on Sunday, October 18. Minister Ven. Sonam Lama also attended the closed-door sit-down. The meeting immediately set off rumors about Bhutia joining the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha.
Officials claimed the conversation centered on state development and local welfare. Neither man spoke publicly about any political realignment after the meeting finished. The silence did little to dampen the noise. Bhutia currently holds no party affiliation.
Bhutia formerly stood with the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front. He ran for the Barfung Assembly constituency seat during his time with that party. He lost that race to SKM candidate Riksal Dorjee Bhutia by a margin of nearly 4,000 votes. He resigned from the SDF after that defeat and stayed on the sidelines.
Supporters and critics alike are now questioning his next move. No official confirmation exists regarding a move to the SKM. As one report noted, the meeting has "prompted discussions about Bhutia's possible return to active party politics." He remains a free agent for now.
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