Athup Lepcha is an Indian politician and environmental activist. He is the vice president of

Hamro Sikkim Party Hamro Sikkim Party ( HSP) ( English: Our Sikkim Party) was a regional political party (State Party (Unrecognized)) in the Indian state of Sikkim. The incumbent president of this party is Bhaichung Bhutia. Its election symbol is a Whistle. Histo ...

(HSP) and the president of " Affected Citizens of Teesta" (ACT),

Non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...

for environment and biodiversity.

Political career

In 1979 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Athup Lepcha stood as a candidate of

Sikkim Janata Parishad Sikkim Janata Parishad or SJP (Sikkim Popular Association) was a political party in the Indian state of Sikkim led by N.B. Bhandari. SJP won the state assembly elections 1979, when it got 22,776 votes (31,49%) and won 17 seats (had candidates i ...

(SJP) from Djongu Constituency. He won and beat the candidate of Janata Party, incumbent chief minister of Sikkim,

Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Kazi Lhendup Dorjee (11 October 1904 – 28 July 2007), also spelled Lhendup Dorji or Lhendup Dorji Khangsarpa was an Indian politician who was the first chief minister of Sikkim from 1975 to 1979 after its union with India. He was the first Pri ...

. Athup Lepcha appointed to the State Minister for Forest and Environment in

Nar Bahadur Bhandari Nar Bahadur Bhandari (5 October 1940 – 16 July 2017) was an Indian politician who served as the chief minister of the state of Sikkim from 1979 to 1994. He briefly served as Member of Parliament representing Sikkim Lok Sabha constituency f ...

ministry. In 1984, Athup Lepcha became one of the leaders of anti-Bhandari, and denounced the corruption of Bhandari. Bhandari ousted Athup Lepcha from his political party. In 1985 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Athup Lepcha stood as a candidate of

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...

(INC). However, he was beaten by Sonam Choda Lepcha who was the candidate of

Sikkim Sangram Parishad Sikkim Sangram Parishad is a regional political party in the Indian state of Sikkim. In 1979, after a period of instability, a ministry headed by Nar Bahadur Bhandari from Sikkim Janata Parishad party gained power in Sikkim. In 1984, Bhandari dis ...

(SSP) which was led by Bhandari. In 1989 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, Athup Lepcha stood as a candidate of INC and fought with Sonam Choda Lepcha again, but Athup lost and the margin with Sonam Choda was increased. In

1994 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitting ...

, Athup Lepcha couldn’t get any political parties’ ticket, and stood as an independent candidate. He received only 9 votes. Athup Lepcha turned to the environmental protection movement, and he became the president of " Affected Citizens of Teesta" (ACT),

for environment and biodiversity. In May 2018, Athup Lepcha came back to political circle of Sikkim after 24 years, and joined

(HSP) which was led by

Bhaichung Bhutia Bhaichung Bhutia (born 15 December 1976), also spelled as Baichung Bhutia, is an Indian former professional footballer who played as a striker. Bhutia is considered as the torchbearer of Indian football in the international arena. He is often ...

. Athup Lepcha was appointed one of the 9 vice presidents of HSP. In

2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election Legislative Assembly elections were held in Sikkim on 11 April 2019 to elect the 32 members of the tenth Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Legislative Assembly. The term of the tenth Sikkim Legislative Assembly ended on 27 May 2019. Schedule of ele ...

, he stood as a candidate of HSP from Djongu 5th times, he secured 88 votes (1.04%) with 4th position.

Electoral records

;

Sikkim Legislative Assembly The Sikkim Legislative Assembly is the unicameral state legislature of Sikkim state in north-eastern India. The seat of the Legislative Assembly is at Gangtok, the capital of the Sikkim state. History Sikkim became the 22nd state of India by ...

election

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lepcha, Athup Living people 21st-century Indian politicians People from Mangan district Indian National Congress politicians from Sikkim Year of birth missing (living people) Lepcha people Sikkim MLAs 1979–1984 Sikkim Janata Parishad politicians Hamro Sikkim Party politicians State cabinet ministers of Sikkim