A farmer hailing from a remote village, five-time Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling never looked back ever since he started his political career from the grass-root level.
In power non-stop for the last two decades, the 63-year-old Chamling's Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has successfully combated anti-incumbency and the 'Parivartan' (change) cry of the opposition by harping on peace and sustainable development.
Known for his love for the environment, he is often called the "greenest chief minister of India".
Under his leadership, Sikkim became the first state in India to start a green mission, managed to increase its forest cover and is on its way to become India's first organic state by 2015.
Now on his way to surpass the late communist patriarch Jyoti Basu's record as the longest consecutive serving chief minister, he had began his life as a farmer and then a contractor.
His work in rural areas brought him close to the people and was elected unopposed as the president of Yangang Gram Panchayat in 1982.
Three years later Chamling was elected as an MLA on a ticket by Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) and also inducted into the Nar Bahadur Bhandari cabinet.
Such was his popularity that in 1989, a mind-boggling 96 per cent votes were cast in his favour from the Damthang Assembly constituency.
