Alleged supporters of ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) tried to thwart the launch of a procession called by former Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) leader Ganesh Rai at Melli on Monday.

Rai had announced the Sikkim Sudhar (reform) Sankalpa (resolve) Yatra a week ago under the banner of Reform Call.

The statewide yatra is seen as a precursor to the launch of his new party.

Eyewitnesses said the Reform Yatra had started from Melli Dara with about 200 people but was stopped a little distance away by alleged SKM supporters, who decried the march and shouted slogans against Rai. The march eventually proceeded en route to Namthang, about 35km from Melli.

“Our yatra is not against anyone. The yatra is being held to find ways to make Sikkim even better,” said Rai, adding that he was at a loss to understand what was the SKM’s compulsion in blocking the yatra.

Rai, who is the former vice-president of the SDF, iterated that he would announce the launch of his new party during the course of the yatra.

“This is only the start of the yatra. This will go on for 15-16 months…The yatra started today. We will announce the launch of a political party very soon,” he said.

The ruling party rubbished the Reform Yatra as a drama and lauded those who voiced their protest against Rai and his team.

“Some senior and young people of Melli constituency today protested strongly against these persons who are indulging in negative and opportunistic politics. We salute them,” said Jacob Khaling, the spokesperson for the SKM, while addressing a mass joining programme of his party, also in Melli.

The SKM denied that its joining programme was planned at Melli as it felt rattled by the prospect of Rai launching his party, 15 months ahead of the next Assembly elections in 2024.

“They have not launched their party. There is no clarity on under which forum they are working and what the need for this yatra was…. We are focused on our own programme,” said Bikash Basnet, the chief coordinator of the SKM’s media cell.

Rai, however, received support for his yatra from Bhaichung Bhutia, the president of the Hamro Sikkim Party.

“I wish him good luck. This Sudhar Yatra is very important. The way the SKM government has destroyed Sikkim in the last three years, we will have to undo them in 2014,” he said.