Gangtok: In a surprising development, ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) on December 10 announced that it was considering a proposal of snap poll in Sikkim.

"The members of the SDF central executive committee, are considering over a mid term poll option when we have bagged 93 per cent mandate in the recently-held Panchayat elections," B B Gooroong, political advisor to the Chief Minister, who moved the resolution told reporters.

The resolution was neither rejected nor accepted by the SDF leaders who wanted more time to ponder over it, he said.

SDF, which has now 31 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the 32-member House, has two more years to go in its second term. The Assembly election is due in Sikkim in 2004-end.

Explaining the 'rationality' behind the sudden move, Gooroong, a former Chief Minister said, this would prove if the votes polled in favour of SDF in the Panchayat polls were 'genuine'.

"Strike the iron when it is red - goes the saying. And we want to see it," Gooroong said.

The strength of the SDF, which had secured 25 seats in the 1999 assembly polls, later increased o 31 when six MLAs from opposition Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) crossed the floor - with the last three having done recently.

PTI