West Bengal · Vidhan Sabha (State Assembly) Election 1996
Gaulan Lepcha of Gorkha National Liberation Front won the Kalimpong Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) constituency in West Bengal in the 1996 state assembly election, securing 50,362 votes (55.10% vote share). The runner-up was Norden Lama (Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (BUDHIMAN GARUNG)) with 17,121 votes.
A total of 11 candidates contested this assembly seat. State Assembly elections elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) using India's First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, and the party or alliance winning a majority of seats forms the state government. Full candidate-wise vote breakdown, vote shares, and constituency information are shown below.
| Position | Candidate Name | Votes | Votes% | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaulan Lepcha | 50362 | 55.10% | Gorkha National Liberation Front |
| 2 | Norden Lama | 17121 | 18.70% | Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (BUDHIMAN GARUNG) |
| 3 | N.T. Moktan | 9683 | 10.60% | Independent |
| 4 | Mohan Singh Rai | 8242 | 9.00% | Communist Party Of India |
| 5 | Puran Lohar | 2114 | 2.30% | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 6 | Suren Khati | 1497 | 1.60% | Independent |
| 7 | Leslie John Chater | 905 | 1.00% | Independent |
| 8 | Benoy Khati | 512 | 0.60% | Independent |
| 9 | Ashok Rai | 386 | 0.40% | Independent |
| 10 | Garjaman Singh Cintury | 314 | 0.30% | Independent |
| 11 | Pasang Sada | 211 | 0.20% | Independent |
The Kalimpong constituency is part of the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly). In the 1996 Assembly election, 11 candidates contested for this seat. Gaulan Lepcha (Gorkha National Liberation Front) emerged as the winner securing 50,362 votes.
State Assembly elections in India determine which party or coalition forms the state government. The party or alliance winning a majority of Assembly seats in a state gets to form the government and appoint the Chief Minister. Unlike Lok Sabha elections which are held simultaneously across India, each state follows its own election cycle, typically every five years.
How to read this data: The candidate table above shows all contestants ranked by position. The vote percentage column shows each candidate's share of the total votes polled in this constituency. The bar chart visualizes the top candidates' vote counts for quick comparison.