new delhi theres a new anxiety in the top echelons of new delhi about whats arguably indias only friendly neighbour bhutan as the hill kingdom takes another baby step in its transition from monarchy to democracy with its second parliamentary election on july 13 theres realization here that complacence has possibly allowed some disturbing developments there to go unnoticed friendship with bhutan is often taken for granted by our foreign policy mandarinsso it was a rude shock when they learned last year from a chinese press release that the new bhutan pm jigmethinley has had a meeting with the then chinese premier wen jiabao and the two countries were set to establish diplomatic ties given that bhutans foreign policy is conducted by and large in close consultation with new delhi such an important step without its knowledge created disquiet although the pms office in thimpu sought to play it down senior officers recalled that thinley had said months after taking over as pm that he only saw growing opportunities in china and no threat as part of bhutans outreach to china was the decision last year to procure 20 chinese buses typically the kind of purchase that would normally be booked with say tata motors it raised eyebrows it did not help that the person who got the contract for supplying the buses was reported to be a relative of thinley whats ironic is that in his poll campaign thinley is said to be impressing upon the electorate that he was the best upholder of bhutans ties with india whereas he has possibly complicated them thinleys bhutan peace and prosperity party is again the main contender for power in this tiny landlocked nation of 700000 which saw transition to democracy from an over 100yearold hereditary monarchy in 2008 democracy in bhutan was ushered in by bhutans benevolent fourth king jigme singye wangchuck the last month saw the bhutanese repose faith in the system with 55 of 380000strong electorate braving thunderstorms and landslides to exercise their franchise as the worlds largest democracy india welcomed bhutans transition in 2008 but not everyone in south block realized that the proposed model wasnt like indias westminister model of parliamentary democracy its a diarchy in bhutan with the monarch retaining certain overriding powers article 207 of bhutans constitution says the cabinet shall be collectively responsible to the druk gya88lpo the king and to parliament the government must also enjoy the confidence of the king as well as parliament further article 204 says the pm shall keep the druk gyalpo informed from time to time about the affairs of the state including international affairs and shall submit such information and files as called for by the druk gyalpo it now appears that the king wasnt quite in the loop as bhutan expanded its diplomatic ties with 53 countries as against 22 in 2008 as well as its overture to beijing to enhance ties with china which has maximum significance for india if he hasnt stepped in