Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 23: The Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday announced that 91,042 Tibetans have been registered as voters for the upcoming 2026 general elections, while also declaring disciplinary action against Sikyong candidate Tashi Topgyal (also known as Lugzi. Tib: shepherd) who declared his candidacy on November 29, 2025. The announcements were made during a press conference held at the Lhakpa Tsering Hall of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) in Dharamshala.
According to the apex election regulation body of the Tibetan government in exile, a total of 56,749 voters registered for the upcoming election in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, while 34,293 voters are registered across Tibetan communities abroad.
The EC also highlighted an extensive public outreach campaign aimed at increasing awareness of election procedures, rules, and voter responsibilities. The Commission conducted 100 public outreach programs across 56 locations, covering 45 Tibetan settlements in India and 11 overseas Tibetan communities between October 14 and December 8, 2025.
The foremost election regulation body confirmed that it has finalized 14 fundamental guidelines for election conduct, along with eight supplementary guidelines based on consultations and feedback gathered during these outreach visits. These measures, the EC said, are intended to clarify campaign-related issues and prevent the misuse of religious and national symbols during the election process.
The EC also announced that Tashi Topgyal has been barred from contesting the 2026 elections and stripped of his voting rights for a period of five years following multiple violations of election rules and campaign guidelines.
The EC added that its decision to bar Topgyal followed an investigation into multiple violations committed during and after his public announcement of candidacy. According to the Commission, he violated provisions of the Charter of Tibetans in Exile, the Election Rules and Regulations for Tibetans in Exile, and the Fundamental Guidelines for Election Campaign.
The Commission stated that during his announcement, that the said candidate publicly questioned the validity of election regulations that prohibit the use of photographs of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan national flag, and the Tibetan national anthem in campaign materials. The EC further noted that the Tibetan national flag was improperly used as a backdrop at the press meet, constituting a direct violation of campaign rules.
These actions, the EC said, amounted to violations of Article 13 (1) and (2) of the Charter of Tibetans in Exile, which relate to trust in Tibetan institutions and respect for the law, as well as Article 21 (10) and (11) concerning adherence to election laws and faith in the Charter. The Commission also cited violations of Articles 24 (5) and (9) and Article 63 (11) and (12) of the Election Rules and Regulations, in addition to Sections 1, 2, 5, and 14 of the Fundamental Guidelines for Election Campaign.
The EC further accused Tashi Topgyal of making false statements, misinterpreting election guidelines, and attempting to discredit the Commission by alleging a lack of respect toward His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan national flag, and the Tibetan map.
Citing Article 25 (9) of the Election Rules and Regulations and Section 14 of the Fundamental Guidelines, the EC ruled that, “The decision has been made to revoke your right to vote and stand for election in official elections for a period of five years from today.” The Commission warned that stricter penalties would be imposed should similar violations continue.
Concluding the press conference, the Commission emphasized the need to uphold the integrity, dignity, and legality of the election process, reiterating that all candidates and their supporters must strictly comply with election rules and guidelines established by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
