Political Parties: Lessons from India Democracy

Bhutanese democracy came with persistence by His Majesty the King said the Chief Election Commissioner of India His Excellency Shri Navin B. Chawla at a conference on Political Parties: Lessons from Indian Democracy held this afternoon. He said that the process of democratization in Bhutan was gradual, planned, peaceful and orderly. 

He also shared his experience from India. He said that on January 25 2010, the Indian Election Commission will celebrate diamond jubilee. The Indian Election Commission has evolved over the years with code of law. His Excellency mentioned that when first elections were held in India after gaining independence, there was no election commission. It was established only in 1980s.He said that there were about 29 parties in 1950 initially, but today there are 7 national parties, 14 state parties.

On the process of the election in India, the commissioner said that before they conduct any election, they consider all the factors at the country at large. He said that these include school examination, geography of the country, weather conditions and holidays both national and local. He siad that this is done to ensure that every voter take the opportunity to exercise their franchise and also to avoid any hindrances for the polling officials during the election.

Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, the Minister of Foreign Affairs asked on the importance of time period bewteen the voting and the result declaration. To this the Cheif Elecetion Commissioner said that shorter the time period between the voting and the result it better. He said longer the period, more tension and more suspicion to the political parties.

Another participant raised the concern on how a rural voters getting nervous will lead to voting for the wrong candidate. Replying to this concern, Shri Navin said that it is true that people get nervous on the EVM. He cited an example of how a friend of his who was 100 years old got nervous and finally revealed her secrecy. He said that it can be prevented if enough advocay including mock elections are done before the main day  of actual voting.

A reporter with the Kuensel, Tenzing lamsang asked about the relationship betweeen the media and election commission in India and necessity of media regulation by the elction commission. His Excellency Shri Navin said that "At times they(media) become whole inaccurate" in informing the people before the results and it so happens that finally when the real results are declared, the winner is just the opposite. He said that as far as India is oncerned, the media-election relationship is quite healthy and in good terms.

Participants also raised questions on the political parties being funded by the state. The Cheif Election Commissioner said that India was stilll not been able to fund their political parties by the state. He however said that, companies and coporate entities whose funding does not come from the government are allowed to contribute to the political parties subject to a maximum of 5% of their audited finance annualy.

The Opposition Leader Tshering Tobgay asked what is the difference between the registered party and the recognized party. The commissioner said that in India, any party can become register a party but not recognized party. He said that to become a recognized party, atleast the party should win 4% of the total vote and then adopt a common symbol.

Over 300 participants consisting of cabinet ministers, foreign dignitaries, senior government officials, media persons, students of RTC and trainees of RIM attended the talk this afternoon. The talk was organized by the Election Commission of Bhutan at the Tarayana Foundation Centre.