Signatory to Sikkim Tripartite Accord Agreement Dies

Accord

One of the signatories of the historic Sikkim Tripartite agreement in 1973, TT Lepcha, died on Wednesday at his residence in Chungthang in North Sikkim at the age of 86.

Lepcha was elected twice from Lachen-Mangshila constituency.

The Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang mourned the demise of the octogenarian leader.

“I express my deepest condolences on the demise of the former MLA and extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and friends and pray for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace,” he said in a social media post.

This is the Golden Jubilee year of the 8th May Tripartite Agreement signed between the erstwhile Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, representing the Kingdom of Sikkim, Foreign Affairs Secretary Kewal Singh representing the Indian government and three political parties of Sikkim Sikkim Janta Congress, Sikkim National Congress and Sikkim National Party. 

The history of the tripartite meeting began on April 4, 1973, when the then Sikkim Chogyal, Palden Thondup Namgyal, had a law-and-order issue. 

Chogyal Namgyal was compelled to ask for help from the Indian government to curb the revolution. It was the first time that the Indian Govt got directly involved in the affairs of Sikkim.

Sikkim reached out to India over any other state because of the 1950 Indo-Sikkimese friendly treaty. Chogyal asked for help and the Indian government agreed. The ensuing result was the agreement of May 8, when the election was demanded to be conducted in a democratic manner.

Sikkim Assembly was formed on April 15, 1974. It brought a proposal, cutting out the power of Chogyal, and Sikkim to be a part of India, on 10 April 1975. Taking the same proposal in 1975, the Indian Constitution brought Article 371F and Sikkim became an Indian state.

 

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