Prem Singh Tamang
Prem Singh Tamang, better known as PS Golay, is the leader and founder of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). The SKM is the largest opposition party in Sikkim, India. Prior to forming the party, he was a key member of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) Party.
Early life
Born to Kalu Singh Tamang and Dhan Maya Tamang on 5 February 1968, Golay obtained Primary to Plus Two level schooling from Soreng Senior Secondary School, West Sikkim. He completed his Degree in Bachelors of Arts from Darjeeling Government College.
Politics
In 1990, he was appointed a graduate teacher under the education department in the Government of Sikkim and served until 1993.
Due to his active interest in social work and politics, he resigned from government service and started participating in the political activities of SDF. As the SDF candidate in the Chukhung Constituency, West Sikkim, he was elected to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly in 1994. During his affiliations with the SDF party, he served as State Youth Convenor and Vice President.
Sikkim government career
He served in ministerial roles in the Sikkim government for three consecutive terms: from 1994 to 1999 as the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Ecclesiastical and Industry Department; 1999 to 2004 as the Minister for Industries and Animal Husbandry; and 2004 to 2009 as the Minister for Building and Housing Department. In 2009, after winning an election in the Burtuk Constituency, he was nominated as the Chairperson of Industries Department. However, he did not serve as chairperson.
Sikkim Kratikari Morcha party
Golay became a descendant MLA of the SDF party after the Rolu Picnic event that was conducted by employees of Sikkim on 21 December 2009. The ruling party called a show-cause notice to the government workers who attended the Rolu Picnic.
Following this incident, Golay decided to found the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party, which opposed the SDF party, on 4 February 2014 in Soreng, West Sikkim. On 6 September 2014 he officially resigned from all SDF party duties and became the president of the SKM party. During the election of 2014, the party gained ten of thirty-two seats in the Sikkim State Legislative Assembly under the leadership of Golay. Overall, in the 2014 election, Golay's party shared 42% of total votes in Sikkim.
On 13 January 2017, he was disqualified from the Sikkim Legislative Assembly after being convicted on 28 December 2016 for misappropriating government funds while with the SDF between 1994 and 1999.[1] The Upper Burtuk seat in the Assembly is now vacant.