Yes 59,637 Valid votes 61,133 Location Kingdom of Sikkim | No 1,496 Start date April 14, 1975 | |
59,637 7001975500000000000♠97.55% 1,496 7000245000000000000♠2.45% 61,133 7002100000000000000♠100.00% | ||
A referendum on abolishing the monarchy was held in Kingdom of Sikkim on 14 April 1975. It was approved by 97.55% of voters, and resulted in the country becoming an Indian state.
Contents
Background
In 1950 Sikkim became a protectorate of India, but remained an independent country. The 1974 general elections resulted in a victory for the India-friendly Sikkim National Congress. The new government sought an increase in civil and political liberties, but was suppressed by the Chogyal, Palden Thondup Namgyal. On 4 July 1974 the Parliament adopted a new constitution that provided for the country becoming a state of India, which the Chogyal signed under pressure from India.
On 4 September 1974, the Indian Lok Sabha voted in favour of making Sikkim an "associate" state, with the Rajya Sabha voting for an amendment on 8 September, giving it a status equal to that of other Indian states and absorbing it in the Indian Union. On 8 September 1974 the Chogyal called for a free and fair referendum.
On 5 March 1975 the National Congress repeated its calls for integration into India, whilst the Chogyal again called for a referendum. On 9 April Indian troops invaded the country and disarmed the palace guard while putting the king under house-arrest. According to Sunanda K. Datta-Ray, the Indian Army killed the guards and the palace was surrounded. On 10 April 1975 the Sikkimese Parliament with the support of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, unanimously voted to abolish the monarchy and merge with India in order to obtain full Indian statehood. A referendum on this issue was set for 14 April.
Results
The results of the plebiscite is questioned by Sunanda K. Datta-Ray who argued that "it took at least two days by jeep, the fastest mode of transport, to reach some of these inaccessible habitations, and it just would not have been physically possible to complete arrangements, hold the polls and count votes between 11 and 15 April."
Supporters of the chogyal mantain that 70 to 80% of voters were outsiders from India.
Aftermath
After the declaration of the results, the Kazi cabled the results of the referendum to Indira Gandhi and asked her "to make an immediate response and accept the decision" to which she responded by saying that the Indian government would introduce a constitutional amendment in Parliament that would allow the kingdom to become part of India constitutionally.
The Indian Parliament gave its final approval to the constitutional amendment making Sikkim a state on 26 April 1975. On 15 May 1975 Indian President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed ratified a constitutional amendment that made Sikkim the 22nd state of India and abolished the position of the Chogyal.
Reactions
China and Pakistan called the referendum a farce and a disguise for the forced annexation of the principality, to which Indira Gandhi replied by reminding them of their takeover of Tibet and the issue of Azad Kashmir, which she believed was Indian territory. The Chogyal called the referendum "illegal and unconstitutional".
The U.S. government viewed the merging of Sikkim into India as a historic and practical inevitability, given the state's location on important trade routes. The Soviet Union responded positively, though with a muted response. In 1978, Gandhi's successor, Prime Minister Morarji Desai expressed regret and criticised the annexation of Sikkim, which led to protests against him.