The Bhutanese Leading the way.
With the registration process added to their checklists the aspiring political parties are excitedly geared-up for 2013 elections. Presently they wait with anticipation for the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB)’s green signal to contest the elections.
“Application for registration of two parties, Druk Chirwang Tshogpa (DCT) and Bhutan Kuengyam Party (BKP) is being processed and decision on it will be notified to public in due course of time,” said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Dasho Kunzang Wangdi.
“Bhutan Kuen-ngyam party is doing very well. There are no problems but only some registration protocols which all the parties wanting to register must fulfill,” said Interim President of BKP, Sonam Tobgay. He said that BKP will submit new sets of documents coming Monday after few ‘editorial and cosmetic improvements on the charter’.
BKP hopes to become a full-fledged political party by two weeks time and will soon launch their ‘party manifesto’ either in Samtse or Pemagatshel.
“There were few problems with DCT. We had to change our logo as it had some resemblance with the logo of Desuups, so we need to change it. The other problem is with postal address that election commission needs in all the dzongkhag offices of DCT and there is also a little problem in the form which also needs redesigning,” said Interim President of DCT Lily Wangchhuk.
She said DCT has all the 47 candidates and after minor changes in the ‘charter and as it gets endorsed’ by party convention, DCT is sure to be registered as a political party within a week.
DCT candidates need no ‘experience’ but they should meet certain criteria set by the party charter, even the Interim President as well, said a party spokesperson.
Meanwhile, political analysts say that ‘more the merrier’ is good for Bhutan, more political parties they reason means we will have primary rounds for 2013 and people will have more choices. They also believe that parties should ‘collaborate’ to become stronger after the primary round for the general elections.
Puran Gurung
