October 27: The People’s Democratic Party has submitted charges on improper and unlawful activities conducted by the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa to the office of the Election Commission.

A news release from the People’s Democratic Party says while they have received a large number of charges and complaints from their party workers and the general public from across the country, the PDP has selected only a few cases where they have conclusive evidence of wrongdoing by the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa.

The charges include acts of coercion, deception, illegal fund collection, bribery, involvement of government officials and religious personalities in party politics, use of government resources, making false statements, sedition, and unsubstantiated accusations in public meetings.

It says the charges are in contravention of the draft constitution, election bill, political parties rules of the kingdom of Bhutan, religious organizations act, public and civil service rules, and Bhutan Penal Code.

The news release says the PDP has thus far refrained from making public any charges of wrongdoing by the DPT and refused to be drawn into mudslinging.

It says the DPT has made many accusations against the PDP in complaints to the ECB, the media, and in statements during the familiarization tours that were covered by the media.

It says these have caused serious damage to the reputation of the party in the public eye. The restraint exercised by the party, the news release says, appears to be widely misinterpreted as guilt and the PDP has decided that they cannot remain silent about the illegal activities of the DPT.

The spokesperson of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa Khandu Wangchuk says as far as they are concerned they have been following the rules and regulations.

The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, he said has been conducting fully in keeping with the rules and regulations.

He said they are not aware of any unlawful activity by Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, and expressed confidence that they would be given appropriate opportunity to respond to the allegation.