Gangtok, May 2: The Fourth Council formation and oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected Councillors under the Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC) was held on Saturday at the new Conference Hall in the GMC Building at Deorali.

A total of 20 newly elected Councillors were present and took oath during the ceremony. The oath was administered by the Municipal Returning Officer, Gangtok District, Tushar G Nikhare, in the presence of several dignitaries, including Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Culture and AYUSH GT Dhungel; Minister for Urban & Housing Development, Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Arun Kumar Upreti; and other advisors, MLAs, senior officials, and department representatives.

During the selection process for the post of Mayor, Councillors unanimously proposed Ward No. 09 Councillor Tshering Palden Bhutia, representing the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). With unanimous support, she was elected as the new Mayor of GMC.

For the post of Deputy Mayor, Ward No. 12 (Arithang II) Councillor Sara Lama, also representing SKM, was proposed and unanimously elected.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Urban Development Department, Jitendra Singh Raje, congratulated the newly elected Councillors on behalf of the Government of Sikkim. He urged them to carry out their responsibilities with sincerity and commitment in public service.