Landslide win for DPT, a perfect day for democracy in Bhutan

Not that any such fears clouded today8217;s polls, mandated by the Bhutan King. Polling was smooth and without any disruption, despite widespread fears of subversion by Nepal-based Maoists or Indian underground groups like the ULFA.

When the results came in by late evening, the Druk Phuensum Tshongpa DPT, led by former premier Jigmi Thinley and several of whose candidates have been ministers under King Jigme Khesar Namgyel, had won 44 of the 47 seats. The party is said to be popular among the elite and educated.

The People8217;s Democratic Party PDP, the only other party contesting the polls, won the other three seats. The PDP is headed by Sangay Ngedup, a former two-time prime minister in the old royal regime and the brother of the four sisters married to the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

Earlier, jubilant Bhutanese lined up to vote wearing the ceremonial dress of Ghos for men and Kiras for women and calling the momentous day a 8220;gift from the King8221;. In some pockets, the queue stretched on till late in the evening.

By late night, the results began pouring into the Election Commission office in Thimphu from counting centers. A total of 318,465 voters decided the fate of 94 candidates in the 47 constituencies, spread across the country8217;s 20 districts. The day8217;s spirit was captured in one of the posters issued by the Election Commission and prominently displayed outside all polling booths. It exhorted the voters: 8220;Be a part of the biggest event that is going to change your future. Voting is your sacred right. Exercise it responsibly.8221;

This was what brought Rinzzy Choden, a Thimphu-based business woman, to the Zilukha Lower Secondary School early in the morning to join a serpentine, lazily crawling queue of 1,000-plus voters.

8220;I have come to be a part of history,8221; said an excited Rinzzy. 8220;I missed out the National Council upper house polls held in December 2007. That was deliberate. But this election is important for all of us. I want to carry on with His Majesty8217;s dream of having an elected government to run Bhutanese affairs. How can I waste this opportunity?8221;

The slow pace at which the voting was taking place didn8217;t seem to bother many, including Lhawang Norbu, the polling officer at the booth. 8220;After all, this is the first time we are carrying out this exercise,8221; he pointed out. 8220;We are meticulously following the steps taught to us during the two rounds of mock election. Still, there might be mistakes, but we will learn.8221;

The Election Commission of Bhutan was gifted 865 EVMs by India, and the Bhutanese Gvernment procured another 865 to keep one spare at each polling booth.

Chencho, Nachu and Tshering of Taba village on the outskirts of Thimphu, just out of their teens, were 8220;proud8221; to have cast their votes. 8220;It8217;s a good thing,8221; they said unanimously, though they suspected the pre-poll promises made by the candidates might not materialise any soon. 8220;We only pray it does not become an exercise in false promises,8221; said Chencho, a student of a high school in Dechenchloing.

The DPT that is set to form the new government said on Monday that it would focus on nurturing and strengthening Bhutan8217;s rich culture and heritage while also focusing on developmental issues.

However, it was Phub Dorji, a Bhutan Development Finance Corporation official, who underlined what had changed in Bhutan on March 24, 2008: 8220;The King has handed over power to the people, now it is up to us to make the best or worst of it.8221;