Bhutan
underwent the election of its national council (the upper House of review) members
for the second time on 23rd April 2013(yesterday). By evening, I was
very active on twitter where there were quick updates about the result of
day’s election. And the result was both interesting and surprising.
Out of 14
incumbent members who resigned before their first term to re-contest, only six
of them got re-elected, which really means that Bhutanese people are matured
enough to exercise their own rights and responsibilities; that they had the
taste of so-called democracy; that they are silently and constantly watched, judged and scrutinized; that one can hardly rely on the advantage of incumbency.
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| Source: BBS |
The
result also shows that it doesn't really matter how much one is qualified or
experienced at some particular profession. If you are unable to deliver and live
up to the expectations of the public, there isn’t any warranty that such traits
will be upheld. This is evident by the loss of contestants like Dr Jagar Dorji
of Trongsa and Aum Pema Lhamo of Zhemgang, who were but amongst the least
secured votes.
The
second election of the national council also has one very interesting fact; the
women voter turnout was reported to be more than men, while during the result
declaration time, there wasn’t even one woman who got elected! So the second
national council will have to go without women candidate and this really
contradicts the very vibe of Bhutanese society about empowering women and
equalizing gender differences. I even joked about this on twitter: "Perhaps it was the
application of the physics law of attraction for unlike charges and repulsion
for like charges!" But on the other hand,
this speaks Volume about the citizens making their own choice following their
own heart and instinct, as to who really will benefit at the end of
day. This is really the talk of equity and justice; it’s important to have
equal participation of both gender, but more important is to have participation
of equally competent, capable and loyal ones, maybe this time the women contestants
were short of these traits in the eyes of the voters.
This
election also foretells the very nature as to how the 2nd election
of National Assembly will look like. People might (or might not) have made
mistakes in the past, but now it seems it won’t be repeated, they are ready to
mend. And this only means a better participation, a better democracy.
With the
2nd national council elections successfully completed, thanks to
election commission of Bhutan, the media, and Voters, hope there will be new and
better ideas from the new faces. Congratulations and Trashi Delek to all the elected members.
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