October 06: Having a mixture of both young and elderly candidates vying for a seat in the National council is a right composition, said the Chief Election Commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi.

He was speaking at the first ever briefing of potential National Council candidates at the banquet hall in Thimphu.

There were concerns that young university graduates with little or no experience of governance or understanding of the needs of the people would not be appropriate candidates for the National Council.

However speaking at the first ever briefing of potential national candidates, the chief election commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said stereotyping the youth as irresponsible would be wrong. He said a mix of both the young and the will make the right composition adding that the youth can make great changes.

Speaking to BBS earlier the Chief Election commissioner said "Many young candidates said people’s perception that only old and experienced should become the members of national council is not rational."

Mongal Singh Gurung is a recent science graduate from Sherubtse College. He is one of the candidates from Dagana. For him age issue is not a cause for worry. He said age and experience is important but secondary.

Namgay Dorji is also a recent graduate and one of the candidates from Punakha. According to him youth are equally capable and competent.

Both Mongal Singh Gurung and Namgay Dorji denied that youth are seeking to be elected as an alternative to being unemployed. They said the general speculation that National Council elections are being overshadowed by National Assembly elections is not a concern.

They said they are ready for the elections. The older National council candidates also said the young should contest the election.

Retired Lt. Colonel Pema Wangdi said young people are as competent as the elderly and experienced. The National Council has an important role of a watchdog to monitor and review the functions of the ruling and the opposition parties of the government. It must ensure the success of parliamentary democracy.

The day long briefing covered issues ranging from roles and responsibilities of the National Council and the election nomination procedure, filing of nominations, election campaign fund and advertising and publicity.

Election officials also briefed the National Council candidates on the candidate’s code of conduct, roles of election officials and representatives and postal ballot.

About 52 candidates attended the briefing.