This is one party rule, not multi party democracy (Commentary)

Phuentsholing, March 24: In the first run up to the general election to determine that kingdom ends its rule of absolute monarchy and begin a new parliamentary democracy, it is after all defeat of the royal group.

It was a naïve attempt by the royal forces to secure a safer position in parliamentary democracy using relatives in party politics. Rather, the result turned otherwise to lead Jigme Y. Thinley to victory.

Though, Thinley has no records of acting against tyranny of the monarchy that people silently suffered for the last one century, it was but greater loss for the royal elite. The uncle president sweepingly lost in the first parliamentary test.

This is indeed an attempt on part of the conscious people to transform power at least to that person who has no blood link with the royal family. Uncle Sangey Ngedup is out of the stage. He himself lost to DPT's Tshering Penjore in Kabji-Talo constituency in Punakha.

The first prime minister after the reshuffle of age old cabinet by king in 1998, Thinley has again secured his position for prime minister, at least for the next five years.

It was in 1999, during a HIV/AIDS conference in Thailand, where Thinley had told a representative of the exiled Bhutanese that he would not remain mum to the current political system in Bhutan. He has, now, successfully gained power to fulfill the commitments he made. It is now up to him being sincere to his words.

However, the voter turnout in the election is not encouraging. Observers say little more than 50 percent, seeing estimates in few districts, of the voters might have used their voting rights in this first election.

Finally, the result has proved that country will have one party system, the opposition having merely any strength of bargaining in the parliament. This is indeed a negative symptom for a democracy that rulers might come up with any decisions with two-third majority in the lower House unless checked by the Upper House. Bhutan News Service