Jaigaon, July 10: Ten members of Bhutan’s National Assembly have been elected ministers in a secret ballot.

Out of them, six were ministers of Cabinet rank who were re-elected.

Foreign affairs minister Jigmi Thinley got 127 votes, finance minister Yeshey Zimba got 125 votes and health and education minister Sangay Ngedup got 124. While 111 votes went to trade and industry minister Khandu Wangchuk, agriculture minister Kinzang Dorji and housing minister Thinley Gyamtsho got 103 and 79 votes each.

The king nominated seven new members on the golden jubilee year of the National Assembly. In 1953, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk established the National Assembly to discuss important national and development policies.

Four of the seven newly-elected members became ministers while the rest were elevated to the posts of secretaries and higher posts.

Desho Leki Dorji who was awarded the communication portfolio is one of the new ministers. While Dorji got 125 votes, RCSC secretary Dasho Jigmi Singay got 109 and finance secretary Dasho Wangdi Norbu got 107.

Assembly Speaker Dasho Ugen Dorji said the Assembly in its first year had 36 members. This has increased to 150. So far, 93 Acts have been passed.