Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 24: Karma Tsetan has been elected as the Chairman of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) during the third session of the 12th People’s Congress on Wednesday, reported Chinese state media China Daily. His appointment comes following the investigation of his predecessor, Che Dalha, or Qizhala for alleged disciplinary violations.
Karma Tsetan, born in 1967 has been a long-standing member of the Chinese Communist Party. He has previously served in multiple regional leadership roles. In January 2024, he was appointed as the Communist Party Secretary of the TAR. In May 2024, he became Deputy Director of the regional government. In November 2024, he was appointed as the acting chairman of the regional government.
Tsetan’s appointment comes after his predecessor, Che Dalha was put under investigation for alleged “serious violations of discipline and laws” by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party’s internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of China.
No specific details about his alleged misconduct have been disclosed. Reports suggest that Che Dalha is under investigation and cooperating with the probe, with some claiming he has been detained. However, precise details remain unclear.
Che Dalha, is an ethnic Tibetan official born in 1958 in Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province who served as Chairman of TAR between January 2017 and October 2021. He has also served as Communist Party Secretary of Lhasa between 2012 and 2017. Since October 2017, he has been a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. On 23 October 2021, he was appointed vice chairperson of the National People’s Congress Ethnic Affairs Committee. In March 2023, Che Dalha took the position of deputy head of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He is considered one of the highest-ranking Tibetan leaders within the Chinese Communist Party government.
Since assuming power in 2012, President Xi Jinping has led a comprehensive anti-corruption campaign within the Communist Party of China (CPC) and various levels of government, in the name of good governance and party ideals. However, his graft campaigns are considered by experts to be a tool to purge his competitors and anyone who does not kowtow to his rule and designs.