The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, led by former premier Jigmi Thinley, said to be popular among the elite and well educated, on Monday scored a landslide victory in the first elections in Bhutan that marks the end of absolute monarchy in this Himalayan Kingdom.

DPT, several of whose candidates have been ministers under King Jigme Khesar Namgyel and have experience in the government, made a virtual clean sweep bagging 44 out of the total 47 seats in the National Assembly.

The total voter turnout was 79.4 per cent, Chief Election Commissioner Kunzang Wangdi said.

People's Democratic Party, the only other party contesting the polls, managed to get 3 seats.

PDP is headed by Sangay Ngedup, who is a former two-time prime minister in the old royal regime and is the brother of the four sisters and queens who are married to former king Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

Electronic voting machines form India were deployed in the elections that ushered in the world's newest democracy.

Announcing the results, Wandgi said the notification of the results will be issued on Tuesday.

"This victory can be attributed to the experience our party has," DPT spokesman Palden Tshering told PTI.

The party boasts of former ministers in the trade, home and commerce ministry.

The party said it will focus on nurturing and strengthening Bhutan's rich culture and heritage while also focussing on developmental issues.

Over 2.3 lakh of the 3.18 lakh voters cast their ballot in the elections.

Bhutan's transition to democracy actually began in 2001 when former king Jigme Singye Wangchuk handed over the powers of daily governance to a Council of Ministers.

In 2006, he abdicated the throne in favour of his Oxford-educated son Jigme Khesar Namgyel.

In the run-up to the national assembly polls, two rounds of dummy elections were held last April and May in which the Bhutanese voted for traditional values.

Bhutan elected 15 members to its National Council or Upper House of Parliament on December 31, 2007, and five others on January 29. The king will appoint five more members to the apolitical council.