Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla visits Bhutan Monday on the invitation of the Himalayan kingdom's poll panel chief to discuss election management in the new democracy.

'The visit is at the invitation of Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan Kunzang Wangdi and the main focus of the visit is bilateral discussions in the matter of election management,' an Election Commission release said Sunday.

During his visit, Chawla will deliver a talk on 'Political Parties: Lessons from Indian Democracy' in capital Thimphu. He will also call on the Bhutan Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley.

Chawla, who is scheduled to visit other important places in Bhutan, will also meet regional election officials.

The election commissions of India and Bhutan share a close relationship.

They have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration that was signed in May 2006.

Bhutan held its first parliamentary elections about a year ago and enacted its constitution.

'The visit by the chief election commissioner is expected to further strengthen the ongoing collaboration between the election commissions of the two countries,' said the release.

Chawla will return home on Oct 30.