The nine aspiring Local Government (LG) candidates whose audit clearance was revoked by the Royal Audit Authority (RAA) can now contest in the upcoming LG election. This is because the RAA reinstated their audit clearances yesterday. Earlier this month, the authority revoked their clearances as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has cases registered against them that qualified investigation.
On December 6, the ACC wrote to the RAA to reinstate the audit clearance of the Gup candidates of Soe in Thimphu, Dangchhu and Nyisho in Wangdue Phodrang, Chapchha in Chhukha, Lunana in Gasa, Padtsheling in Tsirang, Korphu in Trongsa and Guma in Punakha, and the Tshogpa candidate from Changyuel-Lungsilgang-Tashijong chiwog of Punakha’s Guma Gewog.
ACC told BBS that it was the most considerate decision taken by the commission.
However, as per the letter, the commission stated that the issuance of the audit clearance doesn’t mean that cases against the candidates are dropped.
According to the election commission, the postal ballot dispatched to the eight gewogs earlier will be considered invalid. The commission will add the candidates to the ballot list and will be sent to the voters again.
The Director of the ECB, Phub Dorji, said since they are going to conduct the common forum again, the poll date in the eight gewogs will be postponed.
“There will be a little change in the election procedure, but it won’t affect other gewogs. The election date will be postponed only in the eight gewogs,” he said.
Of the nine, seven candidates appealed to High Court last month requesting authorisation for them to contest the election. However, the court dismissed the appeal.
According to the court, as per the Election Act, a court shall not have jurisdiction to question the legality of any action taken by the election commission in connection with an election, except upon receiving an election petition or an election appeal.
The poll day for the third Local Government is scheduled for the 22nd of this month.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Chayku
