Resentment brews among ticket seekers in Bhutan

A large number of civil servants who resigned from their jobs in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan to contest the historic parliamentary elections next year are now in a quandary after being sidelined by political parties.

"I was promised a ticket when I resigned but as the politicking gained momentum I was sidelined," an unnamed civil servant who resigned to join the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was quoted as saying by Bhutan's national newspaper Kuensel.

So far, four parties have been formed - the Bhutan People United Party (BPUP), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the Bhutan National Party (BNP), and the All People's Party (APP). The BPUP and APP are likely to merge soon with the two parties agreeing to have a new name.

Already, a large number of government employees from diplomats to civil servants, doctors, engineers and college teachers have resigned from their jobs as per mandatory guidelines by the election commission to become politicians.

Political parties earlier announced that the locals would choose candidates at the village level. "Unfortunately, candidates are determined by a village head or even an influential person in the area. Therefore, we see a lot of rush for local leaders as party workers," said another aspiring candidate who gave up his job.

Bhutan is making a historic shift from monarchy to parliamentary democracy with the former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicating his throne in favour of his son in December 2006 and announcing the first general elections to be held in 2008.

There will be two rounds of elections - the primary and the secondary round. In the primary round, people will vote for the parties and the two top parties will proceed to the final round.

In the second round people will vote for candidates of the two parties that emerge winners in the first round. There are 47 parliamentary constituencies in Bhutan.

"Everybody risked and gambled. A political party would obviously look for winning and they should have the authority to decide whom to give a ticket," a PDP leader was quoted as saying by Kuensel.

Bhutan's Election Act has proposed that a candidate must have at least a Bachelor's degree to contest the parliamentary elections.

"The bulk of the graduates are working in the civil services. If you have three to four parties in Bhutan and 47 constituencies, it means that you need about 140 to 180 candidates. Where is the pool of candidates?" asked Gopilal Acharya, editor of the Bhutan Times, the country's only independent weekly newspaper.

(IANS)

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