EC assures Bhutan of help in conducting polls

The Election Commission Saturday assured all possible help to Bhutan in managing its polls.

Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath assured his Bhutanese counterpart Dasho Kunzang Wangdi all possible support in election management in that country, said a statement.

Bhutan conducted its general election in 2013 which was won by the People's Democratic Party.

A three-member delegation, led by Wangdi, visited the Election Commission and met Sampath "to enhance bilateral cooperation".

"Both sides discussed work placement of ECB (Election Commission of Bhutan) young officers with Election Commission, exchange of Indo-Bhutan seminars on democracy and elections," the statement said.

"Study tours for Bhutanese officers, training of electoral officers by EC resource people and extension of support to an electoral resource centre in Thimpu were also discussed," it added.

Wangdi complimented the EC for successful conduct of the Lok Sabha election.

Wangdi along with his colleagues, also visited the parliament to witness the day's proceedings.

The two poll panels have an active memorandum of understanding and Bhutanese election officials have been receiving regular training at EC.

Bhutan also uses the Indian electronic voting machines.

Recently, three officials from ECB witnessed the general polls through field visits and learnt about the various technological tools used in election management.