Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa in a complaint letter to the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB), yesterday, has called for the cancellation of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s Khar_Yurung candidate, Tshering Choden.
DNT, in a news release, has cited that the DPT candidate indicated committing to giving census to children born of Bhutanese mothers from a foreign spouse.
This DNT said is in direct violation of the Constitution and provisions of the Election Act.
DNT was referring to the live public debate of Khar_Yurung constituency on Friday, where the DPT’s candidate made the remarks.
The news release states, “grant of census, like citizenship, is a prerogative of His Majesty the King. Any attempt to abuse such a privilege is in violation of the Constitution (Article 2, 16b) and section 525 of the Election Act.”
In the complaint letter signed by the party’s general secretary, DNT has written that DPT’s Tshering Choden has also violated section 308 of the Election Act. Thus, DNT is requesting for the disqualification of her candidature.
Section 308 of the Election Act states, “The Election Commission shall, if a registered political party, or candidate, or their representatives contravene or persist to contravene the Election Code of Conduct to an extent that the contravention undermines the institution of democracy, take action under section 147 and cancel the nomination of the candidate, notwithstanding any other penalty that may be imposed under this Act or any other law.”
DNT in the complaint letter stated that DPT’s Khar_Yurung candidate’s comment is a serious threat to the country’s Constitutional Democratic Monarchy and well-being of the nation at large.
DPT in their statement said, “we feel that our candidate simply made a general comment expressing her opinion on current social issues and problems faced by women with regards to fatherless children including, citizenship of children from marriage with foreigners and did not commit to resolve citizenship issues. She just mentioned that there are solutions to it, and we at the DPT know that granting of citizenship is the sole prerogative of His Majesty the King.”
The ECB says they are currently reviewing the case.
