Page 52 - 15OCT2018E

BHUTAN

Bhutan gets ready for next national polls in July 2013 wit- debating Indian government’s inher- new leader of DPT (Pema Gyamtsho) or

repose faith on the relatively new party
nessed the triumph of PDP, follow-
ent intervention in the polls. There is a
wide reflection of the incident where
(DNT) on the fray.
ing which its leader Tshering Tobgay
third general elections became the new premier. Tobgay on India had suddenly withdrawn supports itician Dr Lotay Tshering led DNT is yet
Formed in 2013, a doctor turned-pol-
9 August last resigned along with his
for kerosene and cooking gas supplies
to Bhutan on the eve of last national
to reveals its inclination towards New
council of ministers to pave the way
Delhi or Beijing. They mostly insisted
for an interim administration.
electons.
Tobgay, who was seen as a depend-
The development resulted in rapid
affordable health care facilities to every
able pro-India politician, Thinley price rises of various commodities. on development issues, particularly
Two political parties, which received highest number of votes in the primary round of polls, are now always tried to establish closer ties Though New Delhi later changed its Bhutanese.
mind, but by then the Thinley led DPT
with China. Otherwise the election
Nonetheless, most Bhutanese na-
on the fray for securing their shares in the National Assembly with 47 seats, writes NAVA THAKURIA manifestos for all political parties lost its influence over the electorate. The tionals are somehow in favour of
imalayan beauty Bhutan is constituencies and registered supports ernment include Karma Ura (president
going for its third nation- from 92,722 voters, where as DPT suc- of Centre for Bhutan Studies), Penjore
al (general) elections on ceeded in 22 constituencies, but could (Governor of Royal Monetary Author-
October 18. The nascent secure only 90,020 votes. They were ity), Ugen Chewang (chairman of Druk
H democracy of south Asia followed by PDP (79,883 votes) and BKP Holding & Investments Ltd), Chhewang
has already completed the primary (28,841 votes). Rinzin (managing director of Druk
round of polls on September 15, where Unlike India, the political parties in Green Power Corporation Ltd), Karma
surprisingly the ruling party had the largely mountainous country have Tshiteem (chairperson of Royal Civil
emerged a loser. Now two political par- to nominate candidates in each constit- Service Commission), Kinley Yangzom
ties, which had received highest num- uency (Demkhong) under 20 Dzong- (chairperson of Anti-Corruption Com-
ber of votes in the polls, are now on the khags (district). Otherwise a party is mission), Nidup Dorji (vice-chancellor
fray for securing their shares in the not considered as being prepared fully of Royal University of Bhutan) and
National Assembly with 47 seats. for the electoral exercise. With more Bachu Phub Dorji (managing director
Four registered political parties to add, each nominee must be at least of Kuensel Corporation Ltd).
namely People’s Democratic Party a graduate that limits the number of Earlier the Bhutanese electorate
(PDP), Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), candidates as Bhutan has near about participated in the National Council
Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) and 3000 graduates. polls held on 20 April, where the poll-
Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party (BKP) con- Like Bangladesh, the government ing percentage was 54.3. Considered
tested in the first round of elections has to resign before the elections in as the upper house of Parliament, the
with an aim to get qualified for the final Bhutan and an interim government NC has 20 elected (from each district)
round. Among them, the ruling PDP is formed to look after the country till and five nominated members, who are
came third and lost the capacity to fight a new regime is formed. Bhutan mon- appointed by the monarch. The NC polls
for the National Assembly, which is arch, who functions as a President, are conducted on non-party basis. No
considered as the lower house of Bhu- Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck candidates with religious leader’s status
tanese Parliament. appointed the Chief Justice of Bhutan are allowed to contest the polls.
According to the Election Commis- Tshering Wangchuk as the chief advi- Sandwiched between two giant na-
sion of Bhutan (ECB), the tiny Hima- sor to the interim administration. tions India and Tibet (China), the Bud-
layan nation (also known as Druk Yul Other members of the interim gov- dhist nation was ruled by monarchs,
in Bhutanese or Land of the Thunder when the Dragon King Jigme Singye
Dragon) has 438,663 (224,555 female) Wangchuk himself proposed for trans-
registered voters out of total 735,553 forming it for a democratic constitu- remained same with the development common Bhutanese nationals stared Indian association and the small country
population. Besides electronic vot- Unlike India, the tional monarchy. The Druk democracy of schools, hospitals, roads, electricity, thinking that Thinley would not be endorsing Gross National Happiness
ing machines (EVM), the postal ballots witnessed the first ever elections in drinking water, cell phone services, able to maintain cordial relationship (over GDP) today celebrates a decade
were also used in the electoral process, political parties in March 2008 and prior to that Oxford tax reforms etc. Every political party with India and it would only be harmful of successful democracy, where many
where 66.36 percent voters exercised educated Prince Jigme Khesar Nam- promised to fight corruption, as the for them. other Asian nations are still striving for
their franchises. In fact it was better Bhutan are required gyel Wangchuck was crowned as the ill practice had penetrated to vari- Usually the pro-Indian opposition the multiparty democratic regimes in
than that of last time (55.3 per cent in to nominate ceremonial Head of the State. ous sectors of Bhutan as like its Asian party (PDP) made a big issue out of it their respective capitals.
2013 primary round). The first general elections were won neighbours India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and finally won the poll battle convinc-
The winning party DNT bagged 31.8 candidates in each by DPT (then led by Jigmi Y Thinley) Myanmar etc. ingly. But as the PDP has lost this time, The author is a Guwahati based
per cent of total votes cast, followed by constituency under to form the government in Thimphu. Now various social media users New Delhi has to rethink its policy (read political commentator
DPT (30.9 per cent), PDP (27.4 per cent) Thinley became the democratically of Bhutan (it has over four hundred influence) over the Druk polls. Either it
and BKP (9.7 per cent). DNT won in 16 20 districts elected Prime Minister of Bhutan. The thousand Facebook users) also start has to nurture the friendship with the LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

TEHELKA / 15 OCTOBER 2018 52 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 15 OCTOBER 2018 53 WWW.TEHELKA.COM

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