Twenty council representatives from across the 20 districts were elected for a five-year-term in the National Council (NC)elections held yesterday.
The newly elected members would be joined by five other eminent members who would be appointed by His Majesty the King. As a continuous or permanent house, NC will complete its second five-year term on May 9 and will be reinstituted the next day. The result of the NC elections will be declared formally today and submitted to His Majesty the King.
Bumthang
In the polls for the NC elections 2018 in Bumthang, the incumbent NC member, Nima, 40, was elected again for a second term after securing 3,513 votes (EVMs – 2,551 and Postal Ballot – 962). The runner-up from Bumthang, KenchoTshering, 36, meanwhile, got 2,419 votes (EMVs – 2,071 and Postal Ballot- 348).
Nima comes from Gamling village in Tang gewog and has a masters’ degree in Human Services Counseling. He started his career as a teacher after PGCE in 2004 and worked as a lecturer in Paro College of Education.
Chhukha
A former school principal, Sangay Dorji, 38, has been elected as NC representative from Chhukha from among the six candidates after securing 5,079 votes (3,916 – EVMs and 1,163 – Postal Ballot). He was followed by Tshewang Lhamo with 2,458 votes (2,018 – EVMs and 440 – Postal Ballot).
Sangay Dorji, meanwhile, has a bachelors’ degree in English from Paro College of Education in 2004 and masters’ degree in Management and Administration in 2010 from the same college. He has also completed certificate and diploma course in management and comes with 13 years of experience as a teacher and principal.
Dagana
From among the ten candidates in Dagana, Surja Man Thapa, 34, was elected as its NC representative after securing 2,636 votes (EVMs – 1,794 and Postal Ballot – 842). The former journalist from Tashithang village in Gesarling gewog was followed closely by Birendra Chimoria with 2,394 votes (EVMs – 1,833 and Postal Ballot – 561).
Surja Man Thapa, meanwhile, has a bachelors’ degree in Mass Communication and Journalism, and worked for eight years with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service.
Gasa
The youngest candidate among the three, Dorji Khandu, 33, won the NC elections in Gasa after acquiring 547 votes (15 – Postal Ballot and 532 – EMVs). He defeated Dr. Phurb Dorji and Kinley Dorji, who received 528 and 436 votes respectively.
Holding a masters’ degree in engineering from Sri Lanka, Dorji Khandu earlier worked as RJ with Kuzoo FM Radio and also as project engineer. He is also the Founder and CEO of Dragon Herbs Bhutan. In 2013, Dorji Khandu also contested in the National Assembly elections as candidate from the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa.
Haa
Ugyen Namgay, 35, won the NC elections in Haa after getting 1,730 votes (1,300 – EVMs and 430 – Postal Ballot) and defeating four other candidates.
The newly elected member was followed closely by the incumbent MP, TsheringDorji, who secured 1,573 votes.
Ugyen Namgay, from Mochu village in Sangbaykha gewog, holds a masters’ degree in public policy from Delhi, India and PG Diploma in Public Administration from RIM. After graduation with BA (Dzongkha Honors) from ILCS in Semtokha, he also worked as senior analyst at the Office of Performance Management, PS to Education Minister, Senior Planning Officer of the education ministry, producer (BBS) and as a teacher at a higher secondary school.
Lhuentse
From the five candidates in Lhuentse, the incumbent MP, Tempa Dorji, 50, was elected as the NC representative from Lhuentse for a second term after securing 2,569 votes (1,604 – EVMs and 965 Postal Ballot). The newly elected member was followed closely by Rinzin Rinzin, who secured 2,149 votes.
Tempa Dorji holds a masters’ degree in electrical power engineering and earlier worked as Divisional Manager in Bhutan Power Corporation.
Monggar
From among the 13 NC candidates from Monggar, the lone female candidate, Sonam Pelzom, 32, was elected as its Upper House representative with 2,406 votes (1,012 – Postal Ballot and 1,394 – EVMs).
The female candidate from Drangmaling village in Tsamang gewog has a bachelors’ degree in arts (Dzongkha and Geography). She comes with five years of experience in the teaching profession (including as a foreign English teacher at Thailand).
Paro
A business entrepreneur, Ugyen Tshering, has been comfortably elected as the NC representative from Paro after obtaining 4,763 votes (Postal Ballot – 646 and EVMs – 4,117) from among the six candidates.
The 49-year-old candidate from Gangju village in Lamgong gewog holds a bachelors’ degree in commerce from Sherubtse College in Kanglung. Ugyen Tshering comes with a work experience of more than 17 years in the private sector. The candidate is contesting for the third time in the NC elections and also contested as a candidate of the Druk Chirwang Tshogpa in 2013.
Pemagatshel
Among the five NC candidates, Choining Dorji, from Yangmalashing village, Dechenling gewog, has been elected as the NC representative from Pemagatshel after securing 3,846 votes (1,506 – Postal Ballot and 2,340 – EVMs).
Choining Dorji holds B.A, LL.BN (Hons), postgraduate diploma in national law and LL.M, postgraduate certificate in corruption studies. He has also worked with the High Court, Royal Civil Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, DHI-INFRA and CDCL.
Punakha
Popular Bhutanese actress, Lhaki Dolma, 39, defeated seven other candidates to win the NC elections in Punakha yesterday after securing 2,333 votes (EVMs -1,627 and Postal Ballot – 706). She was followed by Tshencho Wangdi with 1,511 votes.
Lhaki Dolma is from Jimthang village in Dzomi gewog and holds a bachelors’ degree in Language and Cultural Studies and post graduate certificate in Development Management. She has earlier also worked as a Human Resource Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.
Samdrup Jongkhar
Incumbent NC member Jigme Wangchuk, 38, has been re-elected again from among the six candidates for a third term as NC representative from Samdrup Jongkhar after securing 4,101 votes (2,797 – EVMs and Postal Ballot – 1,304). He was followed by Kelzang Phuntsho with 2, 989 votes.
Jigme Wangchuk is from Momring village in Lauri gewog and earlier worked as a teacher before joining politics.
Samtse
Thirty-one-year-old Tirtha Man Rai from Daragaon village in Domtoe gewog, a teacher who graduated with B.Ed, was elected as the NC member from Samtse with a total vote count of 5,002 (EVMs – 4,036 and 966 – Postal Ballot. A total of nine candidates contested for the NC elections in Samtse.
Sarpang
Anand Rai, 35, an educated farmer from Gakiling village in Gakiling gewog with Bachelors in History, was elected as the NC member from Sarpang with a total vote count of 4,278 (EVM=3,534 and PB=744) after contesting against six other candidates.
Anand Rai has a bachelors’ degree in History (Hons).
Thimphu
Electorates in Thimphu have gone for its former Dzongdag, Tshewang Rinzin, 54, to represent them in the NC with 2,117 votes (Postal Ballot – 444 and EVMs – 1,673) from among the five candidates.
The elected member from Dazhi village in Kawang gewog holds a masters’ degree in education administration from the University of New England, Australia. Having had begun his career as a computer programmer at the secretariat of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, he then worked as a physical education instructor, teacher, head master, principal and district education officer. He also worked as Werringla Dungpa in Monggar before becoming the Dzongdag for Chhukha, Trongsa and Thimphu. He resigned from the civil service on January 15.
He was followed closely by the first runner-up, Tshokey Dorji, who trailed behind by 1,936 votes (Postal Ballot -227 and EVMs– 1,709).
Trashigang
Among the seven NC candidates from Trashigang, Lhatu, 51, was elected as the NC representative from Trashigang after acquiring 4,284 votes (2,351 – Postal Ballot and 1,933 – EVMs).
The candidate from Kurichelo village in Lumang gewog has a masters’ degree in Business Administration and a bachelors’ degree in Commerce. Lhatu’s professional experience includes having worked as marketing head, head of customer service, operations manager, Member of Parliament from 2008 to 2013, consultant and director.
Trashiyangtse
Among the six NC candidates from Trashiyangtse, Karma Gyeltshen, 35, from Choekor village in Throm gewog, has been elected as its NC representative after securing 1,952 votes (577 – Postal Ballot and 1,375 – EVMs).
The newly-elected member has a bachelors’ degree in education (English and Mathematics) and earlier worked as a teacher and in the construction business.
Trongsa
In Trongsa, Tashi Samdrup, 46, secured 2,309 votes (614 – Postal Ballot and 1,695 – EMVs), thus defeating the incumbent NC member Tharchen, who secured a total of 2,005 votes. Gyem Dorji was the second runner-up with 1,344 votes.
Tashi Samdrup holds a masters’ degree in mountain forestry and earlier worked as a forestry extension officer, district forest officer and also worked as a consultant.
Tsirang
From among the 12 candidates in Tsirang, Dhan Kumar Sunwar, 31, won the NC elections after securing 2,825 votes (EVM – 2,375 and Postal Ballot – 450). He was followed by Nado Rinchen, who secured 1,401 votes.
Dhan Kumar Sunwar holds a bachelors’ degree in business administration and was an entrepreneur before contesting the NC elections.
Wangduephodrang
With more than 1,000 votes compared to the first runner-up, it was a comfortable win for the incumbent NC member, Tashi Dorji, 36, who was elected again from among the five candidates as the NC representative from Wangduephodrang with 4,995 votes (Postal Ballot – 1,177 and EVMs- 3,818).
Tashi Dorji, from Agokha village, Rubesa gewog, holds a masters’ degree in international affairs. Prior to being a NC member, he worked as a Chief Executive Officer of a private tour company and also worked as a protocol officer. Tashi Dorji was, meanwhile, followed closely by Passang Thrinlee, 58, from Bjena gewog, who secured the second highest provisional votes of 3,751 (Postal Ballot – 622 and EVMs – 3,129).
Zhemgang
Bhutanese electorates in Zhemgang voted for the incumbent NC member, Pema Dakpa, 49, as its NC representative for a second term.
Pema Dakpa defeated four other candidates and secured 2,639 votes (EVMs – 1,391 and Postal Ballot-1,248). He was followed closely by Dorji Cheten with 2,182 votes (EVMs – 1,556 and Postal Ballot-626).
Pema Dakpa is from Khomshar village in Bardo gewog and holds a bachelors’ degree in agricultural engineering and masters’ degree in food technology, and also earlier worked as a program director.
Disclaimer – The votes secured by candidates are provisional figures and ones received by the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) from the polling stations. This may be subject to change at any time, without any notice, as a result of the updating and cross-checking process, by the ECB.
Business Bhutan Team
