Bypolls are set to be held in two Sikkim Assembly constituencies vacated by chief minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) and his wife Krishna Kumari Rai, but interest in the November 13 voting has centred around Aditya Golay, the chief minister's first son from his first wife, Sharda Golay.

Prem Singh had won the recent Sikkim Assembly elections from two constituencies — Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung. His wife Krishan Kumar Rai had won from the Namchi-Singhithang constituency.

Prem Singh resigned from Soreng-Chakung and his wife surprised all by vacating the Namchi seat on June 13, within 24 hours of taking oath as an MLA.

“The moment the bypolls were announced, a campaign was started by a section in Sikkim to seek a ticket for Aditya,” said an observer.

Aditya, 34, was an MLA of Soreng during the last term of the Assembly.

“Videos of voters in the constituency demanding Aditya’s contest and write-ups on his various works are doing the rounds in social media,” said a resident of Sikkim.

While many believe that Aditya will be the obvious choice, the Opposition could raise the issue of familism if the son is given the ticket after Prem Singh's wife won the polls, said an observer.

The parliamentary board of Golay’s Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), formed to select the party's candidate for the bypolls, met on Friday.

“Today’s meeting focused on initial discussions regarding potential candidates for the upcoming by-elections.... Strategies for the party’s campaign were also formulated with suggestions that came from SKM workers,” Kavita Sapkota, the spokesperson for the SKM, said in a written statement.

The parliamentary board headed by Kunga Nima Lepcha also includes senior SKM leaders Sonam Lama, Arun Kumar Upreti, Bhoj Raj Rai and Nar Bahadur Dahal (Chettri).

The team will submit its names to Prem Singh soon. “The committee has urged all SKM activists to remain patient until the official candidates are declared and unanimously support the party’s decision,” said Sapkota.

Filing of nominations for the by-elections started on Friday and will continue till October 25. The entire election process has to be completed by November 25.

During the last Assembly elections, the SKM had won 31 of 32 seats in Sikkim. The lone winner from Pawan Chamlig’s Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), Tenzing Lamta, joined the SKM.

“We are confident of winning both the seats. However, all are curious whether Aditya will be given the ticket,” said an SKM leader.

Several SKM leaders think Aditya is slowly being groomed to step into his father’s shoes.