GANGTOK: Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has exited the
political field, stating that electoral politics is “simply not” for him given
his multiple unsuccessful bids to win a Parliamentary or Assembly seat.
In a
sudden announcement on Tuesday, Bhaichung said: “After the 2024 election
results I have had the realisation that electoral politics is simply not for
me. I am therefore quitting all forms of electoral politics with immediate
effect.”
Bhaichung
had contested as a SDF candidate from his native Barfung constituency where he
lost by 4,346 votes against SKM candidate Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia. The 2024
defeat adds to his earlier electoral defeats as Hamro Sikkim founder in 2019
besides the Parliamentary and Assembly losses in Darjeeling district earlier.
While
bidding goodbye from electoral politics, Bhaichung congratulated Chief Minister
PS Golay and the SKM party for winning the 2024 election. The people of Sikkim
have given them a resounding mandate and I hope the SKM government will work to
fulfil their promises and take Sikkim to greater heights across all sectors, he
said.
“My only
regret is that I felt I had great ideas with regard to development of sports
and tourism which given a chance, I would have loved to implement and thus contribute
to the growth of the State in a very honest and sincere way. Unfortunately it was not to be. I am certain
there will be more people with better ideas to do so,” said Bhaichung, whose
last political outing was a vice president in the Pawan Chamling-led SDF.
Bhaichung
had debuted in Sikkim politics by floating regional party Hamro Sikkim Party in
2018 but the party failed to make a mark in the 2019 Assembly elections. He
then merged Hamro Sikkim Party with the SDF in November, 2023 and joined the
Pawan Chamling-led front.
“As Lord
Buddha said, "one's intentions must be good", I can only say with
utmost honesty and humility that my intention in politics was to do good, for
the people of both State and country. I wish to thank everyone who supported me
through thick and thin. I am also sincerely sorry if I hurt anyone unknowingly
or knowingly,” said Bhaichung.
As we say
in football, please take it in the spirit of the game, he added.
“I now
wish to devote more time to introspect, work towards my other goals and
discover my purpose anew,” said Bhaichung in his media statement.
