KATHMANDU, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has won Bhutan's general elections and is set to form a new government, according to results released by the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) on Wednesday.

This undated photo shows a view of the Kingdom of Bhutan, in Bhutan. (File photo: Xinhua)

The PDP, having won the majority of seats (30 seats) in the fourth National Assembly elections, is declared as the ruling party, while the Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP), having won 17 seats, is declared as the opposition party, the ECB said in a press release.

The overall voter turnout in Tuesday's final round of elections is 65.6 percent. Of the total 498,135 eligible registered voters, 326,775 voters cast their votes, according to the ECB.

From the total votes cast, 218,273 votes were cast in person on the electronic voting machines at the 809 polling stations and 108,502 votes were cast through postal ballots and special early voting, the ECB said.

Tobgay, 58, who served as the country's prime minister from 2013 to 2018, is set to become the new prime minister for a second five-year term in the Himalayan nation.

The PDP, formed in 2007 by Tobgay, has pledged to implement a major economic stimulus plan and create more jobs in various sectors to promote employment in the country in the next five years, according to reports by local media.

It also vowed to develop mini-industrial estates and explore the possibilities of creating infrastructural linkages to boost exports, according to the party's manifesto.

The primary round of the parliamentary elections was held in November 2023.

Bhutan, with a population of around 800,000, held elections for the first time in 2008 after political reforms established a bicameral parliament.

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