For Bhutan, the election results couldn’t have been better since it ensures a continuity in the Indian political leadership who committed the Nu 100b package and 10,000 MW.

For Bhutan, this means no re-explaining, renegotiations or even possible delays, which our government can capitalise on.

The standard line in the Bhutan-India relations is that it is between two countries, no matter what the government in India, with most of the groundwork for continuity done by senior Indian bureaucrats and institutions.

However personalities of leaders can also make a major difference. Though no government official will say so, it is an open secret that the Bhutan government has always been more at ease with a Congress government, whose leaders right from Jawaharlal Nehru to Sonia Gandhi today, are close friends of Bhutan.

Recently President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were guests of Bhutan in successful visits. They met our leaders, saw the country and the friendly people, appreciated it and strengthened the bonds of friendship further.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, like many Indian leaders, also seems to have a soft corner for the steadfast, dependable and strong ally of India. In his drive from Paro airport to Thimphu, he was so moved by cheering school students and a warm welcome that more than once he stopped his entourage to get out and talk to the students.

In this volatile neighbourhood, Bhutan has been the least troublesome and most friendly country that India has, with similar strategic and economic interest.

However, at the same time, BJP and other Indian parties also has a senior, credible and mature leader, with whom Bhutan has done business successfully in the past. His Majesty the fourth King made it a point to meet and interact with as many Indian leaders on a visit. So, today, mention the word ‘Bhutan’ in the corridors of power in Delhi and the response will always be a positive one.

In fact, the foundations of the 10,000 MW and Nu 100b was laid by His Majesty the fourth King in his last visit to India.

Credit must also be given to Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley and his team, who sealed and is seeing through the deal.

The crucial things from Bhutan now will be to keep an eye on who becomes the union minister for power relevant to our hydropower deal and also the foreign minister relevant to our relations. The bureaucrats still remain but the new minister must be met with and engaged to ensure no hiccups or delays.

Personality-wise, the Indian Prime Minister has a spotless and successful track record as a finance minister and also as a prime minister with a reputation for hard work. He is also a scholar and is knowledgeable about his neighbours.

The Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the wife of the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was also a good friend of Bhutan.

She is known as a modern woman with traditional values and good ethics, who refused the chance to become prime minister in what was popularly seen as an act of self-sacrifice in 2004.

Sonia Gandhi is a good friend of Bhutan and it is during her party’s stay in power over the last five years that Bhutan-India relations have touched new heights.