DHARAMSHALA, April 21: The Tibetan Election Commission today announced the names of the three candidates for the final bi-election for one seat of Domed in the Tibetan parliament in exile.
Tashi Dhondup from Nepal; Tsayang Gyatso from Dharamshala and Karma Gelek from Bandhara Tibetan settlement were announced as the final three candidates contesting for the Domed constituency seat vacated by Kirti Dolkar Lhamo after she resigned last year.
Meanwhile, Lukar Jam, who got the second highest votes in the preliminary election, has withdrawn his candidacy from the election. The former executive member of the GuChuSum former political prisoners movement and a former researcher in the Tibetan administration said the election was “not fair” from the start.
“I think that the election was not fair from the beginning. I have also submitted a six-point letter to the Election Commission, which must address the issues. I requested for the reply but they have not responded to my letter,” said Lukar.
“I always find this election against the law and having said this, it is not right to stand for the election. It is not about winning or losing. Therefore on April 15, I visited the Election Commission office and withdrew my name,” Lukar said while speaking to the media about his withdrawal from the final election.
The 15th Tibetan parliament had earlier passed a bill that nullifies the requirement of 33 percent of votes in order to save financial burden on the Tibetan exile government’s Exchequer. However, according to the Election Commission, the bill shall come into actual implementation for the 16th parliament and onwards. Lukar argues that the implementation of this amendment must start after it was signed into a law by the Sikyong.
The final round of the elections will take place on June 9 and the result will be announced on June 20, 2014.
