The Tibetan spiritual leader announced Thursday he would step down as political head of Tibet's exiled government, shifting that power to an elected representative.

“Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power," he said in Dharamshala, the seat of Tibet's government-in-exile in northern India. "Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect."

"Since I made my intention clear I have received repeated and earnest requests both from within Tibet and outside, to continue to provide political leadership. My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility. It is to benefit Tibetans in the long run,” the Dalai Lama said in his statement cited by CNN.

"I trust that gradually people will come to understand my intention, will support my decision and accordingly let it take effect."

The Dalai Lama remains the head of state for now, according to Tempa Tshering, his representative in India, and will remain the group's spiritual leader.

"On March 14th, parliament will meet in Dharamsala and decide whether to approve his request. He wants to make a change. He has always believed in democracy and He wasn't elected as head of state," Tshering said.

The Dalai Lama told CNN in October that he would like to retire at some point.

"I'm also a human being. ... Retirement is also my right," he then said.

The Dalai Lama fled China in 1959, after the failed uprising against Chinese rule in the Himalayan region.