Bhutan gears up for polls, India's fuel subsidy cut an issue

The withdrawal of Indian subsidy on kerosene and cooking gas that has led to rise in prices is expected to become a major issue in the second national elections in Bhutan being held on Saturday.
With people expressing concern over the subsidy withdrawal, the Bhutanese government has conveyed to New Delhi the need for a re-look at the decision.
Though India has not made any statement, the subsidy issue has become a hot topic in the elections.
"Many Bhutanese are hurt and angered by the timing (of subsidy cuts), and feel it is a deliberate move to rock elections," English daily Kuensel said in its editorial.

Bhutan has a tri-cameral parliament of the King, National Council and the National Assembly. There are 25 seats in the National Council or upper house. Five of them are appointed by the King and 20 elected from 20 districts.
National Assembly or lower house consists of 47 members elected from 47 constituencies. Representatives to both houses were elected first in 2008.

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) is the ruling party in Bhutan while major opposition party is the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Word that India is contemplating withdrawing the excise duty refund in addition to the subsidy cut also "got the electorate worried".

"It is once again about the state of Indo-Bhutan relations, which has been politicised to such an extent, no one would have ever guessed it would be that way," the editorial in Kuensel said.
The duty refund procedure is governed by the Bhutan-India free trade agreement, which was renewed in 2006 and is up for renewal bin 2016.