[Assam] Bhutan in poll mode

[Nava Thakuria]

http://thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=14&theme=&usrsess=1&id=183202

Bhutan in poll mode

Nava Thakuria 

As Bhutan, the tiny Himalayan kingdom goes for its first general election today, more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal wait for their turn to repatriate to their country, also known as Druk Yul. 
The international media has poured news of the Bhutan election as an event to celebrate from the Asian continent. The landlocked kingdom will go for polls to form the National Council (Upper House of parliament) today. The council will have 20 directly elected members from each dzongkhag (district). Five eminent personalities from such various fields as literature, music, social service and other areas will be nominated by the King to form the 25-member Upper House. 
The election to the Lower House of parliament will be held in February and March. To be known as the National Assembly, it will have 47 seats. Quoting Mr Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, chief election commissioner of Bhutan, Kuensel, the state-owned newspaper reported that 3,12,817 eligible voters would exercise their franchise. On both occasions, it is the general people, who are 18 and above and possessing valid citizenship cards, will vote. 
It is depicted as a path-breaking attempt for the Buddhist kingdom, surrounded by Tibet (now under Chinese territory) and Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to transform its nation from an absolute monarchy