May 24: The parliament yesterday saw extensive deliberation on the role of Local Governance. The house remained divided on the issue of whether parliamentarians should be involved in the functioning of the local leaders or not.

The Labour and Human Resource Minister Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi said the members of the parliament should interact with local leaders and participate in the planning of development activities. He said working together with local leaders will help the parliamentarians fulfill the promises they have made during the campaign period.

The members of the house got up one after another to express their views. Around nine National Assembly members spoke in favour of the Labour Minister’s submission.

But the National Council members were of the opinion that parliamentarians should not be allowed to interfere with local leaders in planning of development activities. They said it would dilute the decentralization process and also politicize the local governance.

The Opposition Leader Tshering Tobgay and the National Council Chairperson Namgay Penjore said it would not be wise to allow parliamentarians to involve in the functioning of the local governance.

The Chairperson of the Constitution Drafting Committee Druk Gi Thrimchee Sonam Tobgay said parliamentarians can fulfill the promises they have made during the campaign period while discussing development plans and programmes in the Assembly. He said the additional section allowing the parliamentarians to involve in local governance should not be added in the constitution.

The house decided to discuss the matter at a later date.