Election Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration today declared the results

Bijender Sharma
DHARMSHALA---The Election Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration today declared the results of the first round of general election of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and the 3rd election of Kalon Tripa Prime Minister in exile.

As per Article 49 enshrined in the Election Regulation, the Election Commission has shortlisted a list of 50 candidates each from the three traditional provinces of Tibet and 10 candidates each from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and traditional Bon faith, North America and Europe as the final candidates for the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.

The Parliament consists of 47 members. U-Tsang, Do-tod and Do-med, the three traditional provinces of Tibet, elect ten members each, while the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon faith elect two members each. Four members are elected by Tibetans in the west: two from Europe and two from North America. In addition, one to three members with distinction in the fields of art, science, literature and community service are nominated directly by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In accordance with Article 67 in the Election Regulation, a total of 6 candidates are shortlisted for the final round of Kalon Tripa election.61 percent of voters cast their ballots in the first round of election on 3 October 2010.

The final round of election is scheduled on 20 March 2011.

Fresh Date of Voters' Registration

In view of the many eligible voters who have failed to register, the election commission has announced fresh date of registration from 30 November 2010 to 17 January 2011. The list of voter registration should reach the Office of Election Commission in Dharamsala on 24 January 2011.

Speaking of the election process in Nepal, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Jampel Choesang said more than 1,000 votes were wasted on account of 18 ballot boxes seized by the Nepalese police at polling booths in two areas in Kathmandu.

The CEC said the Bhutanese government had ordered the Tibetan authorities not to send the voting lists and ballot papers to the election commission in Dharamsala. All 613 votes cast in Bhutan were wasted, he said.