Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) has emerged the winner in the final round of parliamentary elections in Bhutan, votes for which were cast on October 18.

Recent development: 

• The DNT won 30 seats in the National Assembly, the 47-seat elected lower House of Bhutan’s Parliament. The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) has won 17 seats.
  
  
• Lotay Tshering, a surgeon and urologist by training, is the leader of the DNT, Bhutan’s new ruling party.
  
  

 Impact on Bhutan:

1. Bhutan’s three elections so far have produced three different winners. The DPT won in 2008, and PDP in 2013. This points to a feeling of discontent in a country generally known as a whole for its Gross National Happiness (GNH)
   
   
2. Centre-Left choice: DNT’s slogan, “Narrowing the Gap” between the rich and the poor, has socialist overtones. It struck a chord with the electorate of Bhutan which is witnessing rising inequality in income and access to services like health and education.
   
   
3. Deepening of Democracy: These parliamentary elections were the third since Bhutan transitioned to a constitutional monarchy 10 years ago. Also, 71% of the registered voters voted in Final Round. All this points to healthier democracy.
   
   

 Impact on India-Bhutan relations / Challenges for India:

Reports suggest that India was not a factor in the elections this time, but the elections can and will have consequences for Indo-Bhutan relations.

1. The defeat of the incumbent PDP government, which was seen as being close to India and with whom India successfully managed the Doklam crisis over, may not be comfortable for India. Also, the attitude DNT, formed recently in 2013, towards India is not clear.
   
   
2. The DNT wants to diversify the economy and reduce its reliance on hydropower. 80% of the country’s external public debt (equal to 77% of GDP) stems from loans for hydropower projects, mostly financed by India. India is also the largest buyer of Bhutanese hydropower.
   
   
3. Given that more than 80 % of Bhutan’s total imports and exports are to and from India, self-reliance has emerged as a significant theme in Bhutan in last few years.
   
   
4. Bangladesh, Bhutan India (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement did not figure in the elections, which clearly indicates popular sentiment against the agreement which would have smoothed the motor vehicle movement between the three countries.
   
   
5. In the case of Bhutan, a small state with lack of resources, the challenge lies in balancing the China factor. China does not yet have an embassy in Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. However earlier this year, China sent a top official to Bhutan to open a diplomatic channel.
   
   
6. Big brother perception:
   1. There have been murmurs in Bhutanese social media over a perceived “Indian veto” on how and to what extent Bhutan should engage with the world.
      
      
   2. Also, much has been written about the India factor in Bhutan’s domestic in 2013 elections, although this was not the case this time.
      
      
   
   
   

Way ahead for India:

• In Bhutan, the PM concerns himself with the day-to-day functioning of the country, while the monarchy has the decisive say in matters of national security and foreign policy. It is in India’s interest to have the incoming PM aligned with his predecessor and the monarchy.
  
  
• As Bhutan is planning to diversify its economy, it will therefore be prudent for India to move towards other facets of development cooperation and strengthen the strategic partnership.
  
  
• People of Bhutan are no longer satisfied by the philosophy of “Gross National Happiness” as concrete economic challenges loom. They are looking towards India for enhanced Indian generosity in providing it with development support.
  
  
• This year also marks the 50^th anniversary of formal relations between India and Bhutan. It is expected that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lose no time in visiting Bhutan to consolidate the relationship once the new Prime Minister settles down.