Pakyong Airport to be Renamed After Trilochan Pokhrel; Leaders Discuss Gorkha ST Status in Sikkim
Rangpo, February 26, 2026 — Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay and Darjeeling Member of Parliament Raju Bista attended the 31st Foundation Day of the Akhil Sikkim Khas Chhetri Bahun Kalyan Sangh at the Rangpo Ground. The event featured major administrative announcements by the state government and discussions regarding the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Gorkha sub-tribes.
Major Administrative Announcements for Sikkim
During his address, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay recognized the Khas community’s contributions to the state’s development and announced several new government initiatives.
A primary announcement was the decision to rename the Pakyong Airport after the late freedom fighter Trilochan Pokhrel.
The Chief Minister also outlined several other administrative and welfare measures implemented by his government, which include:
The allocation of land and a ₹20 crore fund for the construction of a Khas Bhawan in Gangtok.
The declaration of February 26 as an official government holiday.
The recognition of October 5 (N.B. Bhandari Jayanti) and August 20 (Nepali Language Recognition Day) as government holidays.
The implementation of a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
The launch of the N.B. Bhandari Fellowship, which provides up to ₹50 lakh for students pursuing higher education in global universities.
The formation of a Sikkim State High-Level Committee to pursue the inclusion of 12 left-out communities in the Scheduled Tribe list.
Focus on Gorkha Unity and ST Status
Attending the event as the elected representative of the Darjeeling constituency, MP Raju Bista addressed the shared goals between the two regions, specifically focusing on community unity and the ST demand.
Bista referenced the Sikkim Legislative Assembly’s unanimous resolution passed on December 12, 2025, which advocated for granting ST status to all Sikkimese Nepali communities and Gorkhas. He stated that the joint efforts of both regions would benefit the broader Gorkha community and expressed confidence that the ST status for the left-out sub-tribes would be restored.
He further emphasized the multi-ethnic composition of the Gorkha community and stressed the importance of protecting this social structure from divisive actions. Bista acknowledged the Khas community’s historical and cultural contributions to the overall Gorkha identity and commended the Sangh’s three decades of work in preserving their heritage.