Guwahati, November 29:

Bhutan’s two state-owned radio stations are playing songs specially composed to teach the kingdom’s citizens about voting ahead of its first-ever general elections in 2008, officials said today.

“The election songs aim to motivate and inform the Bhutanese voters to come forward and participate in the electoral process with the highest sense of pride,” Bhutan’s Election Commission said in a statement.

The tracks, in the local language of Dzongha, have aired on the Bhutan Broadcasting Service and Kuzu FM Radio for the past two weeks.

The Election Commission launched a public drive following a directive by King Jigme Singye Wangchuck to help Bhutan’s estimated 400,000 voters become acquainted with the electoral process. “The Election Commission is happy to release the communication materials, including a Bhutan voter guide, a documentary film, and the election songs,” the statement said.