WORLD NEWS | Indian delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar visits Bhutan

thimpu [Bhutan]China News Service, April 26. In order to explore opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries in election matters, India’s Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar met with Bhutan’s Chief Election Commissioner Dasho Sonam Topgai on Wednesday (today) Fruitful talks were held in Bhutan.

The discussion took place today at the House of Democracy in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Read also | Israel Independence Day 2023 wishes: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sends greetings to Israelis on the 75th anniversary of the nation.

According to an official press release from the Election Commission of India, CEC Rajiv Kumar has been visiting Bhutan for almost a decade at the invitation of the Bhutan CEC to further strengthen the cooperation between the two EMBs.

During his visit, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar also called on the Prime Minister of Bhutan HE Lyonchhen Dr Lotay Tshering and discussed the excellent cooperation and partnership between the two Election Commissions and the commitment to further strengthen this cooperation and partnership , to preserve the warm friendship India shares with Bhutan.

Read also | Shivangi Singh, first female Rafale pilot, IAF team member, participates in Exercise Orion in France.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister of Bhutan thanked CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar for the support and cooperation of ECI to the Bhutan Election Commission, and mentioned the importance attached to EC Bhutan, which is essential to strengthen their democracy. CEC Shri Kumar briefed the Prime Minister of Bhutan on the cooperation between the two ECs in research, ICT and training in the field of election administration.

During the interaction, the CECs of India and Bhutan discussed further cooperation in human resource development, research and training, and leveraging technological advancements to further enhance electoral administration. Election Commissioner Dawa Tenzing of the Bhutan Election Commission and Mr. Ugyen Chewang, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner of ECI Shri Nitesh Vyas also attended the discussion, the official press release said.

CEC Rajiv Kumar also interacted with members of the Indian community in Thimphu.

The Indian embassy in Bhutan mentioned in a tweet that during the interaction, the CEC highlighted the strength and dynamism of Indian democracy, with the ECI focusing on enhancing voter participation in the electoral process and using technology to promote free and fair elections.

He also explained to the members of the Indian community the rights and procedures enjoyed by NRIs under the electoral law and explained the Indian electoral system in detail, including various technological initiatives for citizens, parties and candidates, and electoral mechanisms.

During the meeting, the NRI community in Thimphu asked the ECI to consider providing voting facilities through the Indian Embassy in Bhutan during the Indian elections.

The Election Commission of India and the Election Commission of Bhutan actively cooperate in the field of election administration.

According to official sources, Bhutanese election officials regularly attend training courses held by India’s International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) from time to time. At the request of the Bhutan Election Commission, IIIIDEM organized a special training program for Bhutanese media officials on “The Role of Media in Elections” from 9th to 13th July 2018.

Bhutanese election officials also participate in ECI’s International Election Visitor Programme. After several rounds of consultations with the ECI, the Bhutan Election Commission also decided to deploy an Indian-style EVM.

Institutional cooperation between the Election Commission of India and Bhutan was formalized in 2006 through a Memorandum of Understanding, which was renewed in September 2011 for a period of five years. A new five-year memorandum of understanding was signed in New Delhi on January 24, 2019.

The ECI is also actively liaising and cooperating with the Bhutan Election Commission (AAEA) through regional and global organizations such as the Forum of Electoral Management Authorities in South Asia (FEMBoSA), the World Association of Electoral Bodies (A-WEB) and the Association of Asian Electoral Authorities (AAEA), the release said. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)