Rangpo (east Sikkim) March 4: Celebrations, a resignation, promises and suspense marked the 12th foundation day of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front today.

The resignation of Tseten Tashi Bhutia, a sitting legislator of the dissolved Assembly, this morning did little to dampen the spirits of the party leaders and supporters who had gathered at the mining ground in Rangpo, east Sikkim, for the anniversary celebrations.

Attended by almost all party bosses and presided over by the party president and chief minister Pawan Chamling, more than 30,000 supporters from across the state listened as the leaders told them about the “decade of visible development” under the party’s rule. The venue, a pandal, was designed like an umbrella, the party symbol.

Tashi Bhutia said he had lost trust in Chamling’s leadership and that “despair” had replaced hopes and “cynicism” had overtaken dreams for the state. He submitted his resignation letter to the office secretary at the party office at Deorali in Gangtok.

Bhutia is also the convener of the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (Siblac), an apolitical social organisation representing the communities.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Bhutia said he would continue working for Siblac and a decision on his future political career would be taken after discussing it with the members.

At Rangpo, however, the mood was different. Chamling rendered a marathon five-hour speech, alternating between highlighting the party’s achievements and launching attacks on the Opposition Congress headed by Nar Bahadur Bhandari.

“After 10 years in power, I have become a result-oriented chief minister,” he said, adding that the 12 seats of the Bhutia Lepchas would not be touched.

He even guaranteed seat reservations to the Limbus and Tamangs if voted back to power and said he had asked the Prime Minister to raise the number of Assembly seats in the state from the present 32 to 40.

Chamling said he would provide four seats to the Limbu community in the state in the coming polls and promised to include all “left out” communities in the Other Backward Castes if the party was voted back to power for third term.

Letting the suspense linger, Chamling said he would reveal the names of his candidates for the coming polls. No announcements were, however, made.