Biraj Adhikari (12 June 1961 – 7 March 2024) was an Indian politician. Born in

Sikkim Sikkim ( ; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Koshi Province of Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the ...

, Adhikari first became the general secretary of the

Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) is the unit of the Indian National Congress for the state of Sikkim, India. It is responsible for organizing and coordinating the party's activities and campaigns within the state, as well as selecting ...

, a branch of the

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 ...

. Adhikari then joined the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad, followed by forming and becoming president of the Sikkim National People's Party. He also took part in several elections in the state of Sikkim as part of these parties and the

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 ...

, before retiring from active politics a few months prior to his death in March 2024.

Political career

Adhikari was the general secretary of the

(SPCC), a Sikkim branch of the

(INC) led by

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 ...

. In 2004, as the candidate of the INC, Adhikari contested the sole Lok Sabha seat from Sikkim, but was defeated by a candidate from the ruling party

Sikkim Democratic Front Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) is a regional political party in the Indian state of Sikkim. It was the ruling party in Sikkim from 12 December 1994 to 23 May 2019. History The party was founded by Pawan Kumar Chamling in 1993. It has ruled the ...

(SDF). In May 2006, because of discontent with Bhandari's leadership, Adhikari left the SPCC. Thereafter, he joined and served as the spokesperson of the Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP). Adhikari was then removed from the SHRP in October 2008, and on 10 October, he established and was elected president of the Sikkim National People's Party (SNPP). Adhikari took part in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly election of 2009, contesting from two constituencies,

Rhenock Rhenock () is a town, just 29 km from Pakyong, Pakyong City in the Pakyong district in Sikkim, India, located on the border with the Kalimpong district of West Bengal. It lies 63 kilometres east of Gangtok, and 47 kilometres north of Kalimpong on ...

and Chujachen. However, SNPP could not be registered in the List of Political Parties of

Election Commission of India The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body established by Constitution of India, the Constitution of the Republic of India empowered to conduct free and fair elections in the Republic of India. It is headed by a Chief Ele ...

(ECI) before the election period, as a result, Adhikari and other SNPP candidates ran as independent candidates. They received 6.26% votes or less in each constituency. In

2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election The election was held on 12 April 2014 for 9th assembly of Sikkim, the northeastern state of India. It elected 32 members of Sikkim Legislative Assembly. Background Pawan Chamling led SDF had already formed the previous four governments in S ...

, Adhikari and the SNPP did not contest the election, though in January 2018, Adhikari announced that SNPP would contest the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Election 2019. However, in August that year, Adhikari transferred and was appointed as spokesperson of the

(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 ...

. Delay Namgyal Barfungpa did not follow Adhikari, and Barfungpa was elected to the new SNPP president by party members. In both 2019 Sikkim Lok Sabha Election and

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 ...

(Rhenock constituency), Adhikari stood as the candidate of HSP, losing in both elections. On 30 August 2023, Adhikari resigned from HSP due to health issues, including

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

Death

Biraj Adhikari died at a hospital in Manipal, Tadong,

Gangtok Gangtok (, ) is the capital and the most populous city of the Indian state of Sikkim. The seat of East Sikkim district, eponymous district, Gangtok is in the eastern Himalayas, Himalayan range, at an elevation of . The city's population of 100 ...

on 7 March 2024, at the age of 62. He had been hospitalised since February 2024 and had retired from active politics due to health issues.

Electoral record

;

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 ; Lok Sabah election, Sikkim

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adhikari, Biraj 1961 births 2024 deaths Hamro Sikkim Party politicians People from Gangtok district Indian National Congress politicians from Sikkim Independent politicians in India 21st-century Indian politicians