Prime Minister Modi congratulates People’s Democratic Party, Tshering Tobgay for winning Bhutan’s parliamentary elections; Important updates
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt congratulations to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and party chief Tshering Tobgay on their victory in the Bhutan parliamentary elections.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to X to congratulate the People’s Democratic Party and its leader, Tshering Tobgay, for achieving election victory in Bhutan. The Prime Minister in his heartfelt post stated, “My dear friend @tsheringtobgay and the People’s Democratic Party, many congratulations on your success in the Bhutan parliamentary elections. I look forward to our continued collaboration to strengthen the special friendship and cooperation that bind our nations.”
The People’s Democratic Party of Bhutan wins the largest seats
Bhutan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the largest number of seats in the parliamentary elections and is poised to form the new government, Al Jazeera reported, citing local media reports.
According to the latest figures from the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, the PDP won 30 of the 47 seats in the National Assembly, and the Bhutan Tendrel Party won 17 seats. This was Bhutan’s fourth general election since the transition from a traditional monarchy to a parliamentary form of government fifteen years ago.
Bhutan’s Election Commission is expected to make its final statement on Wednesday.
The election campaigns focused on economic growth and opportunity, despite the country using a “gross national happiness” index instead of gross domestic product (GDP), Al Jazeera reported.
The report states that both parties in the elections are committed to a constitutionally enshrined philosophy of government that measures its success by “the happiness and well-being of the people.”
Tshering Tobgay, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is expected to become prime minister for the second time. He was the leader of the opposition in Bhutan’s first parliament when it was established in 2008, shortly after the start of the current king’s reign.
Bhutan’s “unprecedented economic challenges
He has raised alarm over Bhutan’s “unprecedented economic challenges and mass exodus,” Al Jazeera reported, adding that the PDP manifesto cited government statistics showing that one in eight people “struggled to meet their basic needs for food” and other to provide the necessities of life.
About half a million voters chose the MPs from a pool of 94 candidates presented by the Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) and the PDP. A primary round in November saw the elimination of three other parties, including the ruling center-left Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party, the report said.
Located between China and India, the predominantly Buddhist nation ushered in democracy with its first free vote in 2008, two years after former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated in favor of his Oxford-educated son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
(With input from agencies)