The Election Commission of Bhutan has sent a notification to the Party Presidents of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stating that the two political parties are becoming increasingly regional in tone and divisive in nature.
The notification says both DPT and PDP raking up issues related to national security, national language and citizenship which are beyond negotiation for short-term electoral gains and political mileage.
ECB has asked the presidents of the political parties to exercise self-restraint, instruct and advise candidates, and party workers.
ECB also warns, if any public statements by the political parties incites and are likely to foster regionalism, it will be viewed seriously and legal actions will be taken against them. The legal actions, ECB says, will be restraining orders or even cancellation of candidature.
The notification also says many of the elections-related complaints lodged with ECB, after investigation, are found to be baseless. ECB has advised parties to come up with an internal mechanism to prevent unnecessary litigation to avoid social acrimony. ECB says they will accept the complaint lodged on behalf of Party if only it is endorsed by the concerned candidate, party president or the authorized representative of the president.
