Siliguri, Oct. 7 :     The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) swept both the Assembly and parliamentary elections, forcing the Nar Bahadur Bhandari-led Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) and the Congress to bite the dust once again. The SDF?s dual victory not only shattered Bhandari?s hopes of regaining power but also reaffirmed the domination of regional forces over a national party like the Congress even 24 years after the state?s merger with India. The Congress, which is responsible for Sikkim?s union with India, has never attained power through an election. It, however, ruled the Himalayan state thrice in the past my taking a ruling regional party into its fold. According to latest reports, the SDF won 24 and the SSP seven in the 32-member Assembly. Counting for the last seat, the Sangha (monasteries), is on. The ruling party has backed an Independent for the country?s only non-territorial seat (Sangha) while the SSP and the Congress have fielded their own nominees. In 1994, the SDF had won 19 seats but later increased its tally to 25 by admitting six SSP deserters. The SDF?s Bhim Dahal won the lone parliamentary seat for the third consecutive term by defeating his SSP challenger Satish Chandra Rai by over 21,000 votes. The Congress, which has so far drawn a blank in the Assembly polls, fared badly in the Lok Sabha elections too. Its candidate Somnath Poudyal obtained a little more than 9,000 votes. SDF president and chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling was elected from his native Damthang constituency for the fifth consecutive term. However, two of his ministerial colleagues D.P. Kharel (health) and Ram Lepcha (finance) lost to the SSP in Central Pandam and Pathing respectively. Bhandari, who ruled the state with an iron hand for nearly 15 years till 1994, won from Rhenock, his new constituency, dominated by upper caste Nepalis. But, he lost to SDF?s R.B. Subba in his traditional seat, Soreng, by 66 votes. His wife and former parliamentarian Dil Kumar Bhandari lost to tourism minister Garajaman Gurung in Temi Tarku by over 1,300 votes. Chamling?s sway over the Nepalis of Mongoloid origin was intact as he won all the 16 seats in the South and West districts. On the other hand, Bhandari, a Nepali Kshatriya and his candidates bagged six of the 12 seats in the upper caste-dominated East district. In the last polls, the SSP had won eight seats in the district. The prestigious Gangtok seat in East district went to SSP?s Narendra Pradhan for the second consecutive term. Here, the CPM?s B.L. Sirohia, the lone plains nominee, obtained just 86 votes. Of the 12 seats reserved for Bhutias and Lepchas, the SDF won 10 and the SSP two. Last time, the SSP had won six tribal seats. On the other hand, the two Scheduled Caste seats of Rateypani Western Pandam and Khamdons went to the SDF again. Former Congress chief minister Sanchaman Limboo and other former ministers, including Man Bahadur Dahal, Thukchuck Lachungpa and Taraman Rai lost in the elections. Former SDF deputy chief minister P.T. Lucksom and former head of the Sikkim Ekta Manch Laxmi Prasad Tewari, who contested as Congress candidates were defeated in Renchinpong and Dentam constituencies. Limboo came third in Yuksom.