Monks sit near a polling station in Thimphu on Sunday. According to the country’s Constitution, monks will not be able to exercise their franchise. (PTI)

Phuentsholing, March 23: A keen contest is on the cards as Bhutan goes to polls to elect its first National Assembly tomorrow, ending more than a century of absolute monarchy.

Voting in the 47 constituencies, with exactly double the number of candidates in the fray, begins at 9am and ends at 5pm.

The border of the Himalayan kingdom with Bengal has been sealed since the night of March 22 and will reopen at 6am on March 25 after the results are out.

Only two parties are contesting the elections — the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Druk Pheunsum Tshogpa (DTP). The polls, with 3,18,465 voters, will be watched over by 42 international observers and a host of reporters currently camping in Bhutan.

“We are going to ensure that voting is free and fair at the 865 polling stations where 94 candidates are in the fray from the two parties. The counting will begin soon after polling ends and we should be able to announce the results by 8am on March 25,” said Kunzang Wangdi, the chief election commissioner of Bhutan, over his mobile phone from Thimphu.

Lakpa Dukpa, who works in a private company here, appeared excited about exercising his franchise in tomorrow’s polls. “I will vote for the DPT because I believe it will be successful in ushering democratic rule in our country,” he said.

Ranbahadur Ghole, a farmer, said his priorities lay elsewhere. “It will be the PDP which will be able to preserve the traditional culture of our nation,” said Ghole.

DPT president Jigme Y. Thinley is contesting from Nanong-Shumar in Pemagatshel district. “Democracy will strengthen governance in Bhutan and help fulfil the aspirations of the people,” he said.

PDP spokesperson Tashi Tshering said over the phone from Thimpu that he was confident that his party would be in the majority.

“We have a great relationship with the Indian government and once we win, our party president, Sangey Ngedup, whom we will nominate as the Prime Minister, will further strengthen this relationship,” Tshering added.

Former monarch Jigme Singye Wangchuk had set the electoral process rolling by releasing the draft constitution on March 26, 2005.

After the elections, the present king, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk, will remain the head of state.