Posters seeking votes for Tenzin Namgyal Tethong and Lobsang Sangay put up in Darjeeling. Pictures by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, March 16: Two men who trace their roots to Darjeeling are in the fray to become the next kalon tripa (prime minister) of the Tibetan exile government.

Lobsang Sangay and Tenzin Namgyal Tethong are among the three candidates who are contesting for the post. The other is Kasur Tashi Wangdi.

While Lobsang Sangay was born and brought up in Darjeeling, Tenzin Namgyal Tethong had come to the hill town for schooling.

The prospects of a Tibetan from Darjeeling heading the parliament-in-exile for the first time have generated much enthusiasm among the refugees as the Dalai Lama, the head of the community, has already desired to relinquish his political powers.

This would mean the next kalon tripa might wield more powers over the 1.5 lakh Tibetans living in exile in various parts of Asia, Europe and the USA.

Although the Dalai Lama’s decision has already been accepted by the kashag (cabinet), it is yet to be endorsed by the 43-member parliament. The kalon tripa is the head of the parliament also.

Hectic campaigning for Sangay, 43, Tethong, 62, and Wangdi, 64, has already started in the hills.

Sangay was born in Lamahatta, 24km from Darjeeling, and passed out of the Central School for Tibetans (CST) here in 1986. Supporters of Sangay said he was being backed by the younger generation. “He is brilliant, young and dynamic,” said a supporter.

“He was always interested in politics. As a member of the Tibetan Youth Congress, Sangay used to lead us when he was in school and we used to hold regular meetings at Beechwood in Darjeeling,” said Sonam Chokey Norbhu, a supporter.

Sangay did his Plus Two at St Joseph’s College (North Point) before moving to Delhi and the US for further studies. He is at present a senior fellow at the Harvard Law School.

Ngodup Tsering, a science teacher at the CST, vouched for Sangay’s contribution to the welfare of the community.

“He is my choice. He has visited Darjeeling recently and has done a lot for the community. Although Sangay hails from an ordinary family, he has made it big,” said Tsering. “In a straw poll conducted some months back, Sangay was leading.”

Polls to choose the prime minister of the exiled Tibetans began in 2001. Around 80,000 people who have attained the age of 18 and possess the dhanglang chathel (the green book which shows the refugee status) are eligible to cast their votes.

There are many who are rooting for Tenzin also. Fondly called TNT by his supporters, Tenzin hails from Musoorie. He later moved to Darjeeling in 1962 and studied at Mount Hermon. “I have heard that he was an outstanding student,” said George Fernandez, the principal of the institution.

“We are rooting for TNT because we find him very experienced and capable. Perhaps when Sangay gets more experience we will support him,” said a supporter who did not want to be named.

Tenzin is now a fellow at the Tibetan Studies Initiative, Stanford University.

The third candidate, Wangdi, is being projected as “Mr Clean” by those who back him in the hills. He is the Dalai Lama’s representative in the European Union.

“Wangdi has much experience and we need such a person to hold the post of the prime minister in the crucial period of transition,” said a Wangdi supporter.

The term of the prime minister is five years and Samdhong Rinpoche has been holding the post since 2001. However, he is not seeking a third term in the polls to be held on March 20.

The hills are home to around 2,000 Tibetan refugees.