INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
constituency in Sikkim that does not exist on the map
It has no geographical boundaries to define its exact location
With a little over 2,800 voters, the 32-Sangha assembly seat is spread across Sikkim.Every person of the monastic Sangha community living
across the Himalayan state can vote in this 'virtual' assembly seat.Election officials say the assembly constituency is reserved for monks
of the Sangha community, and only those whose names figure in the records of 111 recognised monasteries in Sikkim can either fight the
elections or vote - "to preserve the distinct identity of Sangha", the state's chief electoral officer says on their official website.The
people of this north-eastern state will vote simultaneously for both the national and state elections in a single phase on Thursday."The
Buddhist clergy in Sikkim takes an annual break from the routine ritualistic chanting of prayers and turning of prayer wheels to elect their
own representative to 32 Sangha assembly constituency," says the Sikkim chief electoral officer."There are a total of 2,881 Sangha voters
which includes both monks and anis (nuns) from the state's 111 recognised monasteries," the website says.The Sangha voters will be allotted
separate electronic voting machines or EVMs.Sikkim Chief Minister and Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) chief Pawan Kumar Chamling, who is also
the longest-serving chief minister of the country, is seeking re-election from Namchi-Singithang and Poklok-Kamrang seats in south Sikkim.Mr
Chamling, 68, came to power in December 1994 and will fight to retain office for an eighth successive term.Get the latest election news,
live updates and election schedule for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on TheIndianSubcontinent.com/elections
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