Thimpu: Polling for Bhutan's second national elections ended today with an 80 per cent turnout of voters with the race between the country's two major political parties, too close to call.
Bhutan's Chief Election Commissioner Kunzang Wangdi said according to the preliminary information the turnout of voters should be more than 80 per cent.
"It was a peaceful election and counting has started immediately. We expect all results should be out after 9 pm (local time)," he told PTI.
Throughout the day, people of all ages wearing traditional dresses queued up outside polling stations to cast their votes.
This is the second national election in Bhutan after the country became a democracy in 2008. In the last election, the opposition PDP won only two of the 47 seats up for grabs.
In the first stage of the polls on May 31, two parties, the Druk Nymrub Tshogpa (DNT) and Druck Chirwang Tshogpa (DCT), lost out leaving the DPT and PDP to contest the final stage of the polls today.
Bhutan has a tri-cameral parliament of the King, National Council and the National Assembly. There are 25 seats in the National Council or the Upper House. Five of them are appointed by the King and 20 are elected from 20 districts.
"I have campaigned hard and I do believe that I have been able to convey the DPT's message to people. It would be an honour and privilege to serve either as a governing party or in the opposition," outgoing Prime Minister and DPT president Jigmy Y Thinley told reporters at Pemagatshel town, 350 km east of Bhutan.
"We are confident that the DPT will win the election," he told PTI; adding, further improving bilateral relations with India would be his party's priority.
The fate of 94 candidates in 47 constituencies will be decided by 3,81,790 registered voters, including 187,917 female voters. In addition, there are 48,000 postal voters.
Highest number of voters are in Satse, 41,769, followed by Trashigang, 41,510. Capital Thimphu has 12,453 voters.
Lowest number of voters are in Gasa, 1,842 voters.
About 10,000 officers, including security personnel, were deployed for election duty.
A total of 850 polling stations, including 215 temporary polling stations, were set up across the country.
India is the only country whose CEC has been invited to oversee the Bhutan elections.
Bhutan's Chief Election Commissioner Kunzang Wangdi said according to the preliminary information the turnout of voters should be more than 80 per cent.
"It was a peaceful election and counting has started immediately. We expect all results should be out after 9 pm (local time)," he told PTI.
Throughout the day, people of all ages wearing traditional dresses queued up outside polling stations to cast their votes.
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This is the second national election in Bhutan after the country became a democracy in 2008. In the last election, the opposition PDP won only two of the 47 seats up for grabs.
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In the first stage of the polls on May 31, two parties, the Druk Nymrub Tshogpa (DNT) and Druck Chirwang Tshogpa (DCT), lost out leaving the DPT and PDP to contest the final stage of the polls today.
Bhutan has a tri-cameral parliament of the King, National Council and the National Assembly. There are 25 seats in the National Council or the Upper House. Five of them are appointed by the King and 20 are elected from 20 districts.
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"I have campaigned hard and I do believe that I have been able to convey the DPT's message to people. It would be an honour and privilege to serve either as a governing party or in the opposition," outgoing Prime Minister and DPT president Jigmy Y Thinley told reporters at Pemagatshel town, 350 km east of Bhutan.
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"We are confident that the DPT will win the election," he told PTI; adding, further improving bilateral relations with India would be his party's priority.
Advertisement
The fate of 94 candidates in 47 constituencies will be decided by 3,81,790 registered voters, including 187,917 female voters. In addition, there are 48,000 postal voters.
Highest number of voters are in Satse, 41,769, followed by Trashigang, 41,510. Capital Thimphu has 12,453 voters.
Lowest number of voters are in Gasa, 1,842 voters.
About 10,000 officers, including security personnel, were deployed for election duty.
A total of 850 polling stations, including 215 temporary polling stations, were set up across the country.
India is the only country whose CEC has been invited to oversee the Bhutan elections.
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