Is Bhutan’s general election politics or polemics? 29 June 2013 The general election of Bhutan is more than a fortnight away, but some voices can be heard from among the electorate wishing the elections were over and done with. Such expressions are emanating from the literate section of Bhutanese society living in urban areas, who are in the midst of the muck that is being flung left, right and centre by the two parties and supporters. In the beginning, it all seemed exciting and a natural part of the so-called campaign process to convince voters about whom they should vote for. But now, it is reaching a stage where it is beginning to get tiring, when all that happens on the political scene, day in and day out, is the flinging of allegations, counter allegations and attacks. This might not be the case for voters in the rural areas, who have their own concerns to take care of, like transplanting paddy and guarding their crop from wild animals. In fact, politicians dropping by, while they work in the fields and at their homes, might even be a pleasant surprise minus the irritating and coercing party worker. Yet, some members of the Bhutanese intelligentsia are beginning to wonder whether elections, an integral part of a democracy, are all about allegations, criticising and pulling the other one to the ground. It is beginning to appear that resorting to such means is the only weapon left for those in the political battlefield. During the live public debates, the candidates do not have anything different to say, other than the highlights of their manifestos and trying to discredit their opponent. But if some sections of the electorate are beginning to feel fatigue, it is because the electoral process to put in place a new parliament has been going on for almost a year now, with the emergence of new political parties and the build up to the council elections on 23 April this year. The council elections generated some excitement, with the electorate expressing their dissatisfaction with some incumbents and electing new ones. Then, there was further anticipation with the country holding the primary round for the first time, where four parties, including two new ones, contested. A fifth party was disqualified to contest because it could not submit the names of all 47 candidates. Despite the rainy weather, 55 per cent of the voters turned out to vote on 31 May to choose two parties to go into the general round. After the primary round results, there was still a lot of excitement, because the possibility of forming a government was up for grabs if the contestants could play it right. Four weeks since the primaries, the contest to form a government is becom
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 19:38:36 +0000
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