Bhutan's pro-India People's Democratic Party stays ahead in parliamentary polls
People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has surged ahead in the first round of Bhutan's parliamentary polls this week, securing overwhelming majority amid efforts by China to expand its presence in the Himalayan nation through resolution of the boundary dispute between the two neighbours.
According to the Election Commission of Bhutan, the PDP bagged about 42.5 per cent votes, followed by the Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP), which finished second with 19.5 per cent votes. The two parties with the highest number of votes will go to the final run-off on January 9.
The PDP's strong performance has surprised even its supporters, according to observers of Bhutan's politics. The party also secured victories in constituencies that historically favoured other candidates.
It triumphed in 39 of the 47 constituencies during the first round of polls.
Tobgay has a special rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and in the run-up to the polls the PDP promised special economic ties with India, said the observers.
Last year, delivering a special lecture on the eve of 75th anniversary of India's Independence, Tobgay described India-Bhutan ties as a role model for other countries in the region to follow, saying the two countries have excellent bilateral ties notwithstanding the difference in their size. «We have Bharat to Bhutan or Bhutan to Bharat model as described by my good friend and PM of India Narendra Modi,» said Tobgay.
«He chose Bhutan as the first destination of his visit abroad after he was elected for the first time in 2014. India has been our development partner over the decades and played the leading role in getting Bhutan entry into the UN.» Tobgay served as the leader of the
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