Final elections to Tibetan parliament next year

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 10

The Election Commission of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), also called government-in-exile, today announced the preliminary itinerary for two-phase poll for the post of Sikyong (Tibetan political leader) and members of the Tibetan parliament in exile. The 14th Kashag (Cabinet) of the government-in-exile completes its five-year term in April, 2016.

“The preliminary election for Sikyong and members of the 16th Tibetan parliament is slated for October 18. The final election would be held on March 20, 2016,” chief of the election body-in-exile Sonam Choephel Shosur said.

The present Sikyong, Lobsang Sangay, became the first Tibetan to be elected as the leader of the exile community after the Dalai Lama devolved his political authority in 2011.

Sangay and members of the 15th parliament are ending their five-year terms in March 2016.Announcing new rules regarding campaign expenses and activities of the candidates, the election commission also capped the electoral expenditure of the candidates.

“The total campaign expense for a Sikyong candidate should not exceed Rs 8 lakh and the campaign expense for a candidate for the Tibetan parliament-in-exile should not exceed Rs 3 lakh,” the election commissioner said. All campaign activities should cease two days before the final election day, he said.

The election commission asked the candidates to submit their names and details to their local election commission before announcing their candidacy. “We also urge the candidates to refrain from excessive campaigning in sensitive areas, such as Nepal where local people are recovering from a natural tragedy,” said Sonam Choephel.The 2016 general election will elect the fourth directly elected Sikyong (earlier Kalon Tripa) and the 16th Tibetan parliament-in-exile.

The next parliament-in-exile comprises 45 members with 10 representatives each from the three traditional Tibetan provinces, two representatives each from the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon religion, two representatives from North and South America, two representatives from Europe and Africa, and one representative from Australia and Asia (excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan). Tashi Wangdu announces his candidature for Sikyong

Tashi Wangdu, CEO of the Federation of Tibetan Co-operative Societies, today announced his candidature for the post of Sikyong (Tibetan political leader) in the 2016 elections.

This is the first such announcement for election to head of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the preliminary round of which will be held this October.

This would be second election to the post of Sikyong after the Dalai Lama announced his retirement from active politics and introduced a democratic system for the election of the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile. In the last election, Lobsang Sangay became the first democratically elected head of the Tibetan government-in-exile after the retirement of the Dalai Lama. While addressing a press conference here today, Tashi Wangdu said,