The correct answer is: a) Regional parties.
Sikkim is a small state in the Himalayas with a population of just over 700,000 people. It is the only Indian state with a Buddhist majority. Sikkim has a unique political system, with a directly elected chief minister and a unicameral legislative assembly. The state has no political parties at the national level, and is instead dominated by regional parties. The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) is the largest regional party in Sikkim, and has been in power since 1994. The SDF is a pro-development party that has focused on improving infrastructure and education in the state. The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) is the main opposition party in Sikkim. The SKM is a regional party that was formed in 2013. The SKM is a pro-people party that has focused on issues such as corruption and unemployment in the state.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
- b) National parties are not dominant in Sikkim. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) are the two main national parties in India, but they have very little presence in Sikkim. The BJP has never won a seat in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, and the INC has only won one seat in the last three elections.
- c) Independent candidates are not dominant in Sikkim. In the last three elections, independent candidates have won a total of 10 seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. This is a significant number, but it is still less than the number of seats won by the SDF and the SKM.
- d) A coalition government is not in power in Sikkim. The SDF has been in power in Sikkim since 1994, and it has never formed a coalition government.