The main factor that marked the election of the PDP government and its immediate aftermath was a high sense of hope among the people that it would get the country out of the rut it was in.
This was visible during the election campaign period itself when the majority clearly felt that among the parties, new and old, only PDP could right the economy and fix many other things.
This is why even when the other parties ganged up against PDP on the debate stage and in the field, the minds of the majority of voters could not be shaken.
In fact, BTP’s voters similarly voted for it with a sense of hope and aspiration that it will bring better change.
With two out of Parliament parties now in Parliament the message from the people was loud and clear that they wanted change.
However, except for the Nu 10 fee change at the Pedestrian Terminal it feels like there was never any election or change in the government and opposition.
PDP may not be able to fulfill all pledges especially if they are expensive and unrealistic, but simple ones like Saturday off and reviving tourism are neither expensive nor unrealistic.
It feels like a DNT Part 2 governance with the same policies being followed and no changes visible with even a major pledge like Saturday off being doubtful and no new ideas in reviving tourism.
Public hope had gone even higher after the government passed a host of executive orders and formed multiple committees promising reports and action within a month.
That hope in record time is turning into deep disappointment.
People are losing hope and now the mood of cynicism and fatalism has started gripping the nation even stronger than before.
There is a sense that nothing will change and people will have to continue suffering for five more years until yet another party comes and makes promises it cannot keep.
The all-important mutual trust and Tha-Damtshi between the people and its elected rulers is being weakened like never before.
There is a deep sense of betrayal growing among voters and more so among PDP supporters and voters who wanted change and improvement and not a continuation of DNT policies and characters.
If there is no damage control soon then PDP will have inflicted itself a fatal political blow and overall trust and faith in Bhutanese political parties will be at an all-time low. This will hurt Bhutanese democracy, turnouts in future elections will plummet and people will lose hope at a time when we need it most.
To live without Hope is to Cease to live.
Fyodor Dostoevsky