Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party (BKP) says they have put up a letter of appeal to the Election Commission of Bhutan to reconsider the decision.
The Party’s President, Sonam Tobgay, said the four political parties have also supported the letter. “I am sincerely grateful to all the political parties.” He said the move by the political parties is unprecedented and that the Bhutanese people have exhibited that politics in Bhutan can be done in something close to being sacred and noble.
Asked on what grounds the Party put up the letter of appeal, Sonam Tobgay said they submitted the letter in a hope that ECB will look into the matter with a wider wisdom. He also said BKP, in no way, is questioning the decision of ECB.
The move comes after the Party was disqualified from contesting in the primary round of elections, after the scrutiny of Letter of Intent by the ECB. ECB, in a press release yesterday has said the Commission could not accept BKP’s Letter of Intent as the Party did not have any candidate-designate for both constituencies of Gasa Dzongkhag. It also said the Party had only two individuals in the Dzongkhag as its registered members of which one was not even a registered voter.
Sonam Tobgay said the Party had secured both the candidates from Gasa. However, he said, the Party lost them at the eleventh hour to another Party. Sonam Tobgay said the candidates have fundamental rights to decide what is best for them. “But such fundamental rights should be less abused.”
Another political party, Druk Chirwang Tshopa, has permitted one of its registered members to move to BKP. DCT’s president, Lily Wangchhuk, has said in the spirit on solidarity they have permitted one of their candidates from Gasa to move to BKP if that will help BKP qualify for primary round.
Sonam Tobgay, towards the end of an interview with BBS, said even if their letter of appeal is not accepted, they will abide by the decision with a sense of composure, dignity, respect and grace.
