Sikkim Local Governments Face Power Vacuum Before 2027 Elections

Gangtok: Sikkim’s local government bodies remain hamstrung. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India reports the state has handed over only 15 of the 29 constitutionally mandated subjects to its Panchayati Raj Institutions. This leaves 14 core areas, including health, education, and agriculture, under the direct grip of state departments.

State agencies still hold the reins on funding and planning. This denies elected officials any real decision-making power. The audit highlighted that panchayats barely use their legal authority to collect local taxes or fees. Cash flow from the state remains erratic. Panchayats cannot plan projects with any financial certainty.

Legislative oversight is failing. Auditors found that past reports on these local bodies were never discussed by a legislative committee. This lack of follow-up destroys accountability. The Sikkim State Election Commission has yet to set a date for the next polls. The current five-year terms expire soon. The report notes, “The 73rd Constitutional Amendment envisages panchayats as institutions of self-government.” Despite regular elections, these institutions remain shells of what the law demands.