Even as the National Assembly deals with a range of issues we are looking at broader concerns, one of them being political leadership. The democratisation process has gained momentum and the question of parties and party leadership is now coming into greater focus.

And it is getting exciting.

Having accepted the wisdom of His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo to establish a Bhutanese democracy and the leadership of the fifth Druk Gyalpo to steer the process we have no choice but to make it a success. The responsibility falls extra hard on all potential leaders and we all sense the growing pressures today.

Over the next months we hope to see leaders truly leading. As someone said, leaders do not flock like birds but soar like eagles. We look forward to visions being shared and paths being outlined. And we, as members of society, will evaluate them and make our choices. The next stage of our democratic process must be a vigorous exchange of ideas.

In Thimphu we generally know our potential leaders and their capabilities but the electoral race takes place mostly in rural Bhutan where a majority of the people live. That can be a different ball game as we see all around us in South Asia.

It is here that one of our greatest challenges lies. We do not undermine the acumen of our farmers. But farmers can be misled, especially at such an early stage of electoral politics. Crowds can be taken advantage of.

Someone also said that the purpose of leadership is not to achieve but to inspire and to give back to society. Let one of our first services to society be clean politics. It would be truly shameful if we allow Bhutanese politics to be tainted right from the start.

To quote much-quoted wisdom, challenges are opportunities, and here is a great challenge. It is time for women and men of destiny to position themselves to turn such challenges into opportunities.

Let us keep in mind that there are two basic types of failures: one is not succeeding and one is not trying. Potential leaders do not want to end up saying "I wish I had tried."

-- Kuensel