Dharamshala — In the 2026 Sikyong elections, five candidates ran for office, including current Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang, Tsering Phuntsok, Tashi Topgyal, and Gyalthang Ngawang Gaden. TPI will provide brief biographies, manifestos and the reasons why all candidates are running in the 2026 general elections. However, the Central Election Commission revoked the voting rights and candidacy for Sikyong to Tashi Topgyal, for violations of the regulations stipulated in the Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile and the Commission’s electoral rules and regulations.
The Election Commission of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) announced on October 7, 2025, that primary election of the 2025-26 for Sikyong and member of 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will be held on February 1, 2026 and the final election will be held on April 26, 2025, on the same day for Tibetans around the world. The official slogans for the 2025-26 Tibetan Elections is “I am Tibet, I vote for Tibet," signifying unity and strength of the Tibetan people.
The Central Election Commission of the CTA also held a press conference on December 23, 2025, and announced that a total of 91,042 voters have registered for the 2026 election of the Sikyong and the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. This includes 56,749 registrations from India, Nepal and Bhutan, and 34,293 registrations from abroad.
The Tibet Post International (TPI) will present the candidates, who run for the position of Sikyong (political leader) the 2026 Sikyong Elections, in alphabetical order: Gyalthang Ngawang Gadan, Kelsang Dorjee, Penpa Tsering, Tsering Phuntsok and Tashi Topgyal. The aim is to introduce the candidates for the position of Sikyong for the 2026 Tibetan elections, not to endorse any particular candidate.
1) Ngawang Gaden, candidate running for the position of Sikyong in the 2026 elections
Gyalthang Ngawang Gadun was born in Gyalthang, Kham, Tibet, in 1976. He studied at various schools and obtained a degree in political science from Tsinghua University. He then went into exile from Tibet. He worked for the Gu-Chu-Sum movement in Tibet and became its president in 2022. The former president of Tibet's Gu-Chu-Sum movement, Ngawang Gaden, announced his candidacy for the position of Sikyong in the 2026 elections on December 26, 2025, in the hall of Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala. Gyalthang Ngawang Gaden's three slogans are: “One leader,” “One ethnicity,” “One cause.”
He explained the three slogans as follows: “One leader” refers to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, “One ethnic group” refers to the Tibetan people, and “One cause” refers to the Middle Way Approach. He also mentioned that he would strive to promote religious unity and achieve freedom for Tibet if he were elected Sikyong.
He added that he would let the people vote to decide whether Tibetans should continue the struggle for an independent Tibet or adopt the Middle Way Approach to resolve the Sino-Tibetan issue. He proposed appointing pro-independence intellectuals as ministers, ensuring that the Central Tibetan Administration included staff from all three Tibetan regions, limiting the term of office for parliamentarians to five or ten years, merge Tibetan village schools, increase teachers' salaries, offer free education from grades 1 to 12 in Tibetan schools, and offer full scholarships to children from families with more than three children. He also stated that he would invite educated young Tibetans to join the Central Tibetan Administration.
2) Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang, candidate running for the position of Sikyong in the 2026 elections
Kalzang Dorje (Kaldo) was born in 1968 in the city of Kalimpong in the northern Indian state of West Bengal. He studied SFF Tibetan Military School at Chakrata (1973-1975) and at St. Augustine's School in Kalimpong (1975-1986). He then studied at St. Joseph's Academy in Dehradun and at St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. From 1996 to 1998, he pursued a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at The Fletcher School of Tufts University, focusing on international business relations and China studies, including coursework in finance, business strategy, and Chinese foreign policy.
Kardo’s Three Core Commitments: (Advancing Tibet, Strengthening Unity, Building a Resilient CTA)
1. Advancing Tibet
When Tibetans came into exile in 1959, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) faced the dual challenge of sustaining the Tibetan freedom struggle while caring for an impoverished and displaced refugee population. The Tibetan people under the leadership of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama met both challenges with remarkable success.
More than sixty years later, the Tibetan community – and the world around it – has transformed. Conditions inside Tibet have deteriorated, yet a disproportionate share of the CTA’s time, attention, and resources remains tied to administration, routine bureaucracy, and delivering benefits to a steadily shrinking population.
As Sikyong, my administration will refocus the CTA’s priorities toward active advocacy and strengthening the Tibetan freedom movement. This will include increasing resources currently allocated to advocacy (now less than 20% of the annual budget); launching a Look North Policy to reinforce strategic settlements along the India–Tibet and Nepal–Tibet borders and deepen engagement with Himalayan communities; and forging stronger alliances both across South Asia and around the world.
2. Strengthening Unity
The Tibetan exile and diaspora community — spread across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and nearly 25 countries worldwide — numbers fewer than 200,000 people, roughly 1 percent of Tibet’s total population. Yet in recent years, this small but vital community has grown less cohesive and more fragmented. Shifting demographics, geographic dispersion, decreasing reliance on the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) for daily services, and the aging of His Holiness the Dalai Lama — the unifying force and leader — have all contributed to this drift.
Tibetan leaders often speak of the need for unity, but the rhetoric has rarely been matched by specific and sustained action.
As Sikyong, my administration will work to unite all Tibetans. I will strengthen the CTA’s presence and relevance in people’s lives, foster greater trust and communication, and serve as a bridge between generations and between Tibetans in South Asia and the wider global diaspora. Unity is not an abstract aspiration — the future of the Tibetan community in exile and the outcome of our freedom struggle depend on it.
3. Building a Resilient CTA
Self-reliance is often spoken of, but real progress has been slow because we lack a concrete, long-term strategy. The funding cuts of 2025 have made the stakes clear: U.S. assistance to the CTA has dropped from US$14 million to US$7 million, and even this reduced amount has not yet been released. Several other governments have also reduced or ended their support, placing additional pressure on the CTA’s already limited reserves.
As Sikyong, my administration will work to recover lost aid and cultivate new sources of support. But long-term resilience cannot rely on external funding alone. We must foster a stronger culture of shared responsibility and encourage capable Tibetans to play a greater role in sustaining the CTA. Strengthening our financial base – and rebuilding CTA reserves – is essential for achieving our broader goals: unifying our community and revitalizing advocacy and the Tibetan freedom struggle.
3) Penpa Tsering, candidate running for the position of Sikyong in the 2026 elections
Penpa Tsering was born in Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement in South India. He studied at TCV School in Bylakuppe up to the 12th grade. From 1985 to 1988, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Madras Christian College. His work experience includes serving as the Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of Dhomay from 1994 to 1997. Since 1996, he has been elected as an Dhomay MP, and from 2008 to 2016, he served as the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. From 2016 to 2017, he served as the Representative of Tibet Office in North America. In 2021, he was elected as the Sikyong of the 16th Cabinet of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Penpa Tsering has stated that he will not be conducting any election campaign for the 2026 Sikyong elections. If you want to know about him and his stance, he advises you to refer to his election manifesto from the 2021 election. Therefore, the manifesto for his candidacy in the 2021 Sikyong election is outlined below:
1) Equitable
Equitable is to treat every province, religious tradition, settlements, organization or individual with unbiased equanimity. It is aimed at providing common rights to every Tibetan- be it allocation of resources or providing opportunities in all areas of public undertaking in the fields of governance, economy, and social programs.
Fairness and justness is defined by decisions based on truth, while upholding the existential essence of the rule of law.
To achieve success in fulfilling this commitment, we will ensure that all policies and programs of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) will be transparent, unbiased, result oriented and fair. That should be guided by the rule of law rather than the individual. The best guarantee to implement this meaningfully by the Administration is to be responsible, answerable, and accountable to the Tibetan Parliament in Exile as well as to the Tibetan people in all public undertakings.
2) Co-effort
Cooperative effort is aimed at ensuring a unified harmonious Tibetan community, and for achieving meaningful results while implementing policies and programs. We must be cognizant of the fact that we are the spokespersons of our compatriots who remain under immense adversity in our homeland. Based on the foundation of our common disposition that is defined by our unique Tibetan identity and the task to restore freedom of our homeland, by pooling in every person's effort, towards the cause of Tibet and welfare of the Tibetans in exile, will be the fundamental path of reasoning that will guide all my administrative works.
Towards that end, it will be my endeavour to consolidate the cooperative effort of the three pillars of democracy; the autonomous bodies; the Kashag and the civil servants; Tibetans inside and out of Tibet; governmental and non-governmental bodies; the news media and the social media networks; the settlements and the scattered communities; the Tibetan associations and the Tibet Support Groups; the three provinces and the religious orders; the intellectual and the artistic communities; and those in business or agriculture. Likewise, the experience of the old and skill of youth should not be dispersed. We must pool all our energies to avoid duplication and wastage for the public good.
3) Moving Forward
Forward movement implies that there is no way we can afford to remain stagnant. Even more so, based on the futility of stepping backward, we must not be preoccupied by squabbles over past mistakes and failures. Rather, learn lessons from them and be vigilant in not repeating the same mistakes while meeting societal challenges. In tune with the changing times, we should provide leadership in opening a new chapter by scaling new heights and finding new ways to work shoulder to shoulder in achieving our common goals.
We have to develop our strategic plans for resolving the just cause of Tibet based on the dynamics of events taking place in China and around the world. We should also be mindful of the overall situation in Tibet and the changes that are taking place in India and other countries where Tibetans reside, in order to preserve our Tibetan national identity. We must also extend our fullest cooperation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other noble personages in their endeavour to benefit the world community through Tibetan religion and culture.
For all these, we are determined to move forward in the direction of continued progress cohesively with reason, farsightedness and speedy means on our way forward.
To put it succinctly, if we have the opportunity to meaningfully implement the three principles of equality and justice based on a solid foundation of rule of law; Cooperative effort through Solidarity of energies, and a way forward aimed at futuristic continued progress, then one can be sure that we have met the criteria to take the community on the progressive path in fulfilling our responsibilities to the Cause of Tibet and taking care of the community in exile.
3) Tsering Phuntsok, candidate running for the position of Sikyong in the 2026 elections
Tsering Phuntsok was born in 1980 in the Mangyul Kyidong, Central Tibet. After arriving in India as a refugee in 1988, he studied at the Mussoorie School and later graduated. He then completed a Bachelor of Arts from Karnatak University and a Master of Arts in Geopolitics from Mysore University.
His work experiences are; participated in a hunger strike for Tibet in New Delhi, India in 1998. He served as the President of the Mysuru Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, and organised a peace march from Mysuru to Bangalore for the Tibetan cause. Over the past 20 years, he has taught at schools in Mussoorie, the Tibetan Children's Village in Bylakuppe, and Sambhota School in Bylakuppe. He currently works as a geography teacher at Sambhota School in Bylakuppe.
Tsering Phuntsok’s five manifestos are as follows: Unique, Uniform, Upliftment, Unity and Umaylam (Middle Way Approach).
Tsering Phuntsok stated, "Tibet's religion, culture, language and other aspects are unique. Therefore, it is crucial to have unparalleled plans and policies for them as well. If all projects and campaigns can be implemented equally, unity will be achieved. Through this unity, the Tibetan community will gradually develop democracy, education and the economy. It is important to resolve the issue of Tibet through the Middle Way Approach. If Tibet gains Autonomy, this will fulfil the aspirations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the older generation and the policies set out by the Tibetan Parliament in exile."
Tsering Phuntsok outlined the five main priorities he will implement if elected:
1) Tibet-China Dialogue
Facilitating meaningful negotiations and communication between Tibet and China
2) Democracy, Health & Education
Strengthening democratic institutions, better healthcare and educational systems within the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)
3) Science & Technology Department
Establishing a dedicated department for science and technology in CTA
4) Financial Stability of CTA
Ensuring long-term financial security and sustainable funding mechanisms
5) Sikyong Fund
Creating a special fund for emergency situations and community development
5) Tashi Topgyal, candidate running for the position of Sikyong in the 2026 elections
Tashi Topgyal was born in Ladakh, northern India. He herded sheep until the age of 16 and served in the army for 14 years. Currently, he is a businessman.
Tashi Topgyal held a press conference at hall of Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala on November 29, 2026, to announce his candidacy for running the position of Sikyong in the 2026 Tibetan elections. At the time of the announcement, his campaign slogans were “Me and Our Government”, “Me and Our Administration.”
He explained that "Me and our government”, “Me and our Administration” means, under the leadership of the Sikyong, all members of the Tibetan community must participate in public affairs, strengthen the ties between the people and the government, prioritise the struggle for the Tibetan cause as a nation that has lost its country, protect Tibetan religion and culture, and lead the community without distinction of region or sect by following the path of “Me and our government,” thereby promoting unity within Tibetan society.
However, the Central Election Commission of Central Tibetan Administration announced on December 23, 2025, that Tashi Topgyal had violated electoral rules by using the Tibetan flag and the image of His Holiness the Dalai Lama when announcing his candidacy for Sikyong on November 29, 2025. Therefore, the Election Commission had revoked the voting rights and candidacy of 2025–26 Sikyong for Tashi Topgyal, for violations of the regulations stipulated in the Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile and the Election Commission’s electoral rules and regulations.
According to the Central Election Commission's guidelines on election campaigning, ‘the candidates for the Election of Sikyong and Members of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, 2025-2026, cannot use the image of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the flag of Tibet, the emblem of the Central Tibetan Administration, maps of Tibet, or any other national symbols for the purpose of gaining votes in the elections.’
