📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Nlengay
Politics
Opposition parties rally against Dushyant Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 19 Oct 2026, 04:02 AM
👁 15
Opposition parties in Sikkim have staged protests over the recent appointment of Dushyant Gautam as the state's governor, calling the decision politically motivated.
Several opposition parties in Sikkim convened a protest on the day of Dushyant Gautam's swearing-in as governor, alleging that the appointment undermines regional autonomy. The demonstrators gathered outside the Raj Bhavan, unfurling banners that criticized the central government's decision and demanded a transparent selection process.
Party leaders asserted that Gautam, a former central minister, lacks a direct connection to Sikkim's unique cultural and political landscape. They urged the Union government to reconsider the posting and to consult local stakeholders before finalising such high‑profile assignments.
The administration, however, maintained that Gautam's experience at the national level equips him to represent the President's interests in the state. No official response to the protest has been released as of now.
Security personnel were deployed to manage the crowd, and the protest remained largely peaceful, with no reports of arrests or violence. The opposition has pledged to continue its agitation until the appointment is reviewed.
The episode adds to a growing pattern of friction between the centre and regional parties over gubernatorial nominations, a subject that has sparked debate across several states this year.
Party leaders asserted that Gautam, a former central minister, lacks a direct connection to Sikkim's unique cultural and political landscape. They urged the Union government to reconsider the posting and to consult local stakeholders before finalising such high‑profile assignments.
The administration, however, maintained that Gautam's experience at the national level equips him to represent the President's interests in the state. No official response to the protest has been released as of now.
Security personnel were deployed to manage the crowd, and the protest remained largely peaceful, with no reports of arrests or violence. The opposition has pledged to continue its agitation until the appointment is reviewed.
The episode adds to a growing pattern of friction between the centre and regional parties over gubernatorial nominations, a subject that has sparked debate across several states this year.