It may not be politically the most exciting state but strategically Sikkim is very important. In the third phase of polling its three lakh voters will not only poll for the lone parliamentary seat but also elect a new state government.
The Congress is hoping that Rahul Gandhi would be able to swing fortunes in the pretty Himalayan state of Sikkim, where the party managed to win just one seat in the last assembly elections and was nowhere in contention for the single parliamentary seat.
It's Pawan Chamling's SDF that reigns over Sikkim. Almost undisputed.
But the state's first time voters are demanding a little more from their leaders.
"I want the new government should increase enrolment of number of students joining schools and focus on dropout rate of students from primary level," says a first time voter.
"I want the government to solve unemployment," says another.
"I want the government to concentrate on youth issues and women empowerment," puts forth another.
"I want my vote should be counted for the election of a good government for the country," opines yet another.
Sikkim has serious communication bottlenecks. The historic opening of the Nathula Pass for trade with Tibet has not even taken off. And the government is yet to deal with one of the longest relay hunger strikes, an agitation against dams on the Teesta.
