By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Sept 24: In a setback to the Prime Minister of the Tibetan exile polity the Tibetan parliament has voted out his nominee for DIIR Kalon (minister) Sharling Dhardon who ran short of 8 votes for majority.
Tibetan PM Lobsang Sangay for the second time this year proposed Sharling’s name for the post of Kalon and appealed the house for support. MP Dawa Phunkyi objected to the same which necessitated, as per the charter, a voting among the members of parliament in the house.
However, Sharling who secured the highest number of votes in the Chithue polls earlier this year failed to secure a majority that would guarantee her seat as the minister for the Department of Information and International relations. Out of the 43 MPs present in the house, a majority of 27 votes went against her induction into cabinet while 14 votes favoured it and 2 votes nullified.
Speaking to media following the verdict, she said that although she did not receive the majority that she hoped for, the proceedings were a result of a democratic process where respective MP’s exercised their roles and that it is holistically a matter of pride for the exile administration.
“Being a member of the Parliament or being a Kalon (minister) is not a career path for me, rather I consider it as my duty being a Tibetan. Hence, whatever post or capacity I may hold in the future, I will continue to contribute within my capacity for the Tibetan struggle,” Dhadon Sharling said.
Sharling’s name was proposed in June for the post but had to be immediately withdrawn owing to her not fulfilling the age requirement. Article 21 (3) The exile government charter’s Qualification of a Kalon mandates “At least 35 years of age;” among nine other qualifications for any candidate.
