The exiled Tibetan community will vote on Sunday to choose their Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa), the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Over 83,000 voters from across the world will cast their votes to choose ‘Kalon Tripa’ (PM), Chief Election Commissioner of the Central Tibetan Administration(CTA), Jamphel Choesang said.
The elections come in the backdrop of the 14th Dalai Lama's (Tenzin Gyatso) announcement last week that he wants to be relieved of his political responsibilities, leaving the exiled Tibetans to take over the charge.
The three candidates in fray for the Prime Minister's post are Lobsang Sangay, Tenzin Namgyal Tethong and Tashi Wangdi.
Lobsang Sangay, 43, is a senior fellow at Harvard Law School, whereas Tenzin Namgyal Tethong is a respected scholar who teaches at Stanford. While Tashi Wangdi was the Dalai Lama's representative in Brussels, New York and New Delhi.
Ten polling booths have been set up in Himachal and four in Delhi and there are booths in Russia and South Africa, and many others countries, Choesang said, adding, efforts are being made for polling in Nepal also.
"There are 86 regional elections offices throughout the world, which will count the votes and forward the results in secret to Dharamsala head Office.
The final checking and compilation of the result will be done in Dharamsala, during the 3rd week of April, and the results will be out on April 27, he said.
Although MPs will also be elected, the main focus is on the election of new PM (the Kalon Tripa) of the Tibetan government in Exile.
There are three candidates in fray for PM post in the Final Phase, CEC said, adding, the waitage of the lead in preliminary elections held last year will not be counted.
The incumbent Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Samdhong Rinpoche, will complete his second term in office in May this year.
As per the Tibetan Charter (Constitution), any leader can remain on the top post for a maximum of two terms.