DPT returns with a big bang. PDP goes out and DNT rises. BKP back to drawing board. Looks like BKP failed to get the 10%. Whilst DNT garnered a huge anti- establishment vote. ( Courtesy BBS. ECB will ofcourse confirm official results tomorrow ).
The Eastern Zone stays solid with DPT. Whilst Central zone is divided between DNT and DPT. And Western Zone divided between DNT and PDP.
DNT takes overall vote number but DPT wins 22 constituencies. PDP wins 8 constituencies and DNT bags 17 constituencies. Somehow relieved that North Haa did not forsake Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay in this hour of darkness. It was by a whisker. South Haa was as expected solid for Lyonchen.
I think the continuous anti-DPT campaign during the last 5 years and huge Pay raise for MPs plus over submission to India did PDP in. And change of attitude in the last one year may have come too late.
DNT did very well in tapping different types of anti- establishment sentiments. Such ploy enhanced PDP woes though DNT could not even dent DPT Party base. So will PDP join hands with DNT? Some PDP candidates could join DNT. But DPT is here to stay as Ruling or as a strong Opposition. First democratic PM JYT's vision of Southern Bhutan Highway and Sovereign Foreign Relationship with other Nations besides India lives on with DPT under President Pema Gyamtsho. Whichever Political Party wins in the General Election, I hope the Border Treaty is signed with China and Bhutanese sovereign dignity is enhanced with the Blessings of our People' King. India is a close friend but I cannot accept India as master of Bhutan. A Master is never a genuine Friend.
Hubris blinds and cost you dear.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the former PM's personal remarks in the 1st Party Presidential Debate, when he should be handling it diplomatically, and also the party workers/sponsors in dzongkhags-and elsewhere- behaving as though they can pull any strings, stage any drama and intimidate etc. must have resulted in PDP incurring the unspoken, yet huge, public resentment.
Whoever comes to power, they should rather prioritize Southern-Bhutan highway, border agreement with China (and ultimately diplomatic and trade relations), explore more international relations (& thus donors), minimize the dependency on India and promote free market - as we might be on the brink of having an oligarchy at the helm.
Good Luck!
I think people will accept any of the two parties as long as they remain strong and not submissive to foreign power unlike their predecessor. I would personally stress whoever comes to power to prioritize food self sufficiency as the foundation of our self reliance vision rather then destructive hydro power dreams. Remember just few decades back we were self sufficient with food grains and livestock products. Today with the pace of development, many of our farm lands are left fallow with rural urban migration and as a consequence we are totally dependent on imported food grains, meat,vegetables etc..It is really a source of big embarrassment to depend on all imported consumables except water and yet we seem to remain complacent. I remember as a small kid in the village, a family who cannot sustain their livelihood until the next harvest season and has to borrow from the neighbors will not be included in the village meetings and gatherings. My message and suggestion to whoever comes to power is to strengthen ourselves from within before embarking on external wishes. Tashi Delek!
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