The rival
lyonpo sangey ngedup, 55
President, People Democratic Party (PDP)
Education: Dr. Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong.
work profile: Like his adversary, Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup has served His Majesty’s Royal cabinet for over 30 years in different capacities starting as a diplomat and going on to take charge of trade and industry, planning, health education and agriculture. He now becomes the first Leader of the Opposition in the Bhutanese Cabinet
His experience is vast. During a food shortage in 1975, he reportedly went on a survey on foot in Dagana where he was serving as a civil servant. He has toured the country extensively and has first hand knowledge of the ground realities.
The credit for setting up of the National Technical Training Authority, National Employment Board, Royal University of Bhutan and Health Trust Fund goes to him. He also launched land-management campaigns and spearheaded the good governance initiative and propagated ways to modernise farming enterprises. He propagated the theory of ‘Triple Gem Approach’ that advocated better coordination, better accessibility and better marketing of products of the Bhutanese farmers.
A member of the Royal family by marriage, his defeat is being cited as an example of how the elections in Bhutan have been free and fair.

POWER LINE
1907 Warlord Ugyen Wangchuck is chosen as hereditary ruler
1910 Bhutan sign treaty with British, ceding control over Bhutan’s foreign relations
1952 Reformist monarch Jigme Dorji Wangchuck succeeds to throne
1952 National assembly established
1968 First cabinet established
1971 Bhutan joins United Nations
1972 King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck dies and is succeeded by his son Jigme Singye Wangchuck
1974 First foreign tourists allowed in
1998 King cedes some powers to National Assembly, giving up role as head of government. The cabinet is now elected by assembly
1999 Limited television and Internet services allowed
2000 First Internet cafe opens in Thimphu
March 2005 A new constitution unveiled, envisages parliamentary democracy for Bhutan
December 2005 King Jigme Singye Wangchuck says he will abdicate in 2008, when democratic parliamentary elections are to be held. The crown prince will take over as monarch.
September 2006 Preparations start for its first elections to be held in 2008
December 2006 King Jigme Singye Wangchuk abdicates and 26-year-old Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck succeeds to the throne
April 2007 Mock elections are staged to familiarise voters with the process ahead of the polls
January and February 2008 A string of bomb blasts hits the country ahead of the March 24 elections. The attacks are blamed on groups fighting for the rights of ethnic Nepalis exiled in 1991
March 2008 Pro-monarchy Druk Phuensum Tshogpa wins 44 of the 47 seats in the country’s first parliamentary elections. Another pro-monarchy party, the People Democratic Party, wins the remaining seats