Overview
- CAP, speaking Thursday in Gangtok, said it will skip party tickets for the April 24 Urban Local Body elections and support independent candidates in all 63 wards.
- The State Election Commission has scheduled the municipal and nagar panchayat vote for April 24 after expanding the map to 63 wards.
- Leaders accused the ruling SKM of abandoning its pre‑2019 promise to end party-based local polls.
- CAP argued that party-run local races blunt the devolution goals of India’s 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, especially in wards with only 500 to 1,000 voters.
- The party flagged risks such as uncontested wards, reservation choices, and candidate eligibility doubts, and tied its push for independents to daily issues in Gangtok like long water cuts, scarce parking, and rising garbage and power bills.