February 18: The second round of the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) sponsored debates between the political parties was held in the capital yesterday evening. It was broadcast live on BBS.

PDP was represented by the Thrimshing constituency candidate Dorji Choden. DPT was represented by the South Thim Throm candidate Yeshey Zimba.

They outlined the plans and programmes and the strategies of their parties. Both cited poverty alleviation, improving people’s living standard, enhancing rural income, private sector development, promoting culture and tradition, preservation of the environment, providing gainful employment, and socio economic development as some of priorities.

Unlike the previous debate between the two party presidents, the two representatives posed questions to each other. This was welcomed by the viewers. They said the debate this evening was better than the presidential debate because of the question answer session.

Others think there should have been more questions to make the debate interactive and engaging.

Yesterday evening’s debate failed to attract as many viewers as the previous debate. The previous debate was projected on a huge screen outside the RAPA hall where the debate was held because the people could not accommodated inside.

An election official said it may be because the previous debate was the first of its kind.