Debated debate was incongruity

                                               

                                                                                    Party Presidents during the debate

The nation eagerly waited for a long time to watch the live telecast of the first Party Presidents debate which was held at the Royal Thimphu College yesterday. The president of four parties endorsed by the Election Commission of Bhutan as eligible parties to participate in primary round for the second National Assembly election. All the presidents of the parties were familiar faces to Bhutanese. 

The Druk Chirwang Tshogpa president, Aum Lilly Wangchuk, author and the former director of Bhutan Media Foundation was explicit to the essence of her party component and personal goal of forming hervparty.

Aum Dorji Chodon, President of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, a first lady Engineer in Bhutan referred her party  was formed with a humble vision and candidates are with all commoners who wanted to serve the Tsawasum.  

Former Hon'ble Prime Minister, President,  Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, Jigme Y. Thinley detailed the future plans and past achievements by his party. 

The Former  Hon'ble Opposition Leader, Tshering Tobgay who tried to stand with ECB rules to present only party's ideology questioned other parties' presentation.

The Chief Election Commissioner stated a week ago that  “The first Presidential Public Debate will take place on 8^th of May 2013 in the Auditorium of the Royal Thimphu College where the Speakers are expected to speak on the Party Ideology. The second Public Debate on 10^th of May 2013 shall be held in the Royal Academy of Performing Arts Auditorium and Presidents are expected to cover the party's manifesto. But to the astonishment of public, the debate drove to the wrong directions and most of the time, party presidents started to point fingers to each other.

After the debate, people mentioned that they have not been convinced by any of the party president to vote for them and they are hopeful that parties would come up with more convincing themes and pledges. 

The format of the debate was not standard like what ECB announced earlier.  Where did the debate go wrong?  The Presidents, Anchor or Election Commission of Bhutan?  Let’s watch next debate how much they have learned from the first mistake. We are learning the art of democracy and all these are lesson for all authorities and public to show the good way to the election. 

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