Sify (India)
June 14, 2010

A new prime minister and parliament of the
Tibetan government-in-exile based in this
northern Indian hill town will be held in March
next year, an official said Sunday.

'The primary elections to nominate candidates
will be held Oct 3 while the general elections
will take place March 20, 2011,' chief election
commissioner Jamphel Choesang told IANS.

According to him, some 120,000 Tibetan exiles
worldwide above the age of 18 are eligible to
vote. In 2006, 32,205 of 72,000 registered voters exercised their franchise.

Incumbent Samdhong Rinpoche became the first
directly elected prime minister in September 2001
after the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai
Lama, called for a directly elected political leader of the exiles.

The Dalai Lama has been based in this town since
fleeing Tibet in 1959. His government-in-exile is
not recognised by any county.