Bhaichung Bhutia says open to joining Chamling's Sikkim Democratic Front

Bhaichung Bhutia open to joining SDF; talks underway. HSP president confirms he's open to joining main Opposition party in Sikkim. Discussions underway within HSP on its future. Bhutia & Chamling formulating strategy to take on SKM. SDF won 15 seats in previous polls, 12 joined BJP, 2 switched to SKM.

Footballer-turned-politician Bhaichung Bhutia on September 6 said that he was open to joining the Opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) led by former chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling.

The Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) president told PTI that talks are underway with the SDF and "things may be finalised soon".

"We are in talks with the SDF and things may be finalised in a few days. We will be able to give the complete details only after that," he said, when asked to confirm rumours doing rounds about the possibility of him joining the main Opposition party in the Himalayan State.

The 46-year-old former international footballer, however, confirmed that he was "open to joining the SDF".

On the fate of the HSP, which Mr. Bhutia had founded along with like-minded people ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he said discussions were underway within the party (on its future).

The party had polled less than 2% votes in the last Assembly polls in which Mr. Bhutia also lost from the two seats he had contested.

Mr. Bhutia has held several meetings with Mr. Chamling to formulate a common strategy to take on the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, better known as P.S. Golay.