May 27: The Parliament has finished discussing all the 35 articles of the Draft Constitution.

However several issues have been kept aside for discussion on Wednesday and Thursday. No major amendments have been made during the discussions so far.

The National Assembly member from Goenkhatey-Laya constituency in Gasa Damcho Dorji drew the attention of the house on Article 18. He said there is a need to include a section that the Opposition Leader shall be conferred Dakyen from His Majesty the King like the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Ministers, the Speaker, and the National Council Chairperson.

Around five members supported his submission emphasizing the role of the Opposition Party in a democracy. An equal number of members disagreed with his submission. They said those who receive Dakyen from His Majesty the King must be elected to the post through an election in the parliament like the Speaker and the National Council chairperson.

In response, the Goenkhatey- Laya constituency member Damcho Dorji said the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers who received Dakyen from His Majesty the King were also not elected in the parliament though the National Assembly Speaker and the Chairperson of the National Council were.

The Chairperson of the Constitution Drafting Committee Druk Gi Thrimchee Sonam Tobgay said the committee did not consider and discuss the conferring of Dakyen to the Opposition Leader. However he said he will submit a response on the issue on Thursday.

Today, the parliament members will seek clarifications on various articles of the Constitution and the National Assembly Secretariat will read out the resolutions.