The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) will conduct the Thromde elections as per the schedule despite the lockdown in the Southern towns. The poll day is scheduled on April 28 for the third Thromde Elections for Thimphu, Gelegphu and Phuentshogling.
The ECB said it is prepared for such a situation.
“We have been expecting such a situation so it is not much of a worry. There are many things to be done as the election approaches but from one side it is good that the lockdown happened now because we will have time to work on how to go with the election. There won’t be much issue because we were already preparing for such situations. We have planned how to go about the election during the pandemic and also during a lockdown,” said Tashi Dorji, the Head of the Department of Electoral Registration with the ECB.
He said during the lockdown, people cannot gather or come out to polling stations to vote. He also said the commission is discussing the plans further with relevant stakeholders.
“It has affected their campaign because they are still carrying out the door to door campaign. The people need to know their candidate and their manifestos. So the lockdown must have affected the people in knowing their candidates and the candidates in their campaign. But they can do online on social media,” he added.
Meanwhile, the candidates are of the view that meeting people face to face has a greater impact than talking over the phone. However, they said in the interest of the health of the nation, the lockdown is a must.
The commission is also contacting every voter so that they can decide on how to go about the plans.
Kinley Dem
