Race for third National Council begins
The race for National Council has finally formally begun with 127, almost double to last election, aspirants from 20 districts vying for 20 positions. Most of the candidates are young and some recent graduates too. Of the 130 who passed through the block selection process, three dropped from the race – Ugyen Dorji from Pema Gatshel district, Mon Bahadur Rai from Sarpang and Dorji Wangchuk from Trashigang.
Of the 127 candidates running the show, only six are females. Mongar and Tsirang districts have the highest 13 candidates while Bumthang has lowest two. Less than 1,000 voters in Gasa district will be divided among three candidates. These candidates were elected through preliminary informal election at the block level. According to election guideline, one block can have only one candidate. Multiple candidates are eliminated through this informal election where small number of voters in the block can decide the fate of the candidate.
The 14 incumbent members had announced to re-contesting of which all except Sangay Khandu of Gasa and Kamal Bahadur Gurung of Tsirang make it through the nomination process. Six incumbent NC members of Paro, Punakha, Pemagatshel, Trashigang, Samtse and Dagana are not recontesting.
The candidates will have until April 18 morning to convince voters to elect them. The election day is April 20. Each candidate will get state funding of Nu. 150,000 for campaign.
Here is the list of candidates from each district:
Bumthang
Number of blocks: 4
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates
1. Nima, 40
2. Kencho Tshering, 36
Chukha
Number of blocks: 11
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates
1. Pema Tenzin, 39
2. Tshewang Lhamo, 37
3. Sangay Dorji, 37
4. Kinley Dorji, 33
5. Damcho Gyeltshen, 32
6. Hem Kumar Ghalley, 31
Dagana
Number of blocks: 14
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Dawa Rigyel, 26
2. Birendra Chimoria, 36
3. Sangay Thinley
4. Wangdi, 32
5. San Man Gurung, 28
6. Tenzin Samdrup, 39
7. Surja Man Thapa, 34
8. Kinzang Gyelstshen, 28
9. Suraj Pradhan, 37
10. Birkha Bahadur Subba, 30
Gasa
Number of blocks: 4
Number of municipalities: NA
Candidates
1. Kinley Dorji, 36
2. Dorji Khandu, 31
3. Dr. Phub Dorji
Haa
Number of blocks: 6
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Tshering Dorji, 44
2. Tobgay, 36
3. Ugyen Namgay, 35
4. Ngawang Tobgay, 28
Lhuentse
Number of blocks: 8
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Rinzin Rinzin, 49
2. Tenzin Jurmey, 29
3. Jurme Tenzin, 36
4. Tempa Dorji, 50
5. Kinga Penjor, 44
Mongar
Number of blocks: 17
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Naichu, 52
2. Yeshi Lhendup, 31
3. Tshering Wangchen, 38
4. Ugyen Tshering, 34
5. Jamyang Loday, 32
6. Neten, 32
7. Ugyen Dorji, 32
8. Sonam Pelzom, 30
9. Chimi Dorji, 32
10. Pema Dorji, 29
11. Tshering Penjor, 32
12. Rinchen Dorji, 28
13. Sonam Wangchuk, 30
Paro
Number of blocks: 10
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Ugyen Tshering, 49
2. Chencho Dorji, 39
3. Jangchub Dorji, 28
4. Dawchu, 30
5. Sonam Tashi, 28
6. Ugyen Dorji, 39
Pema Gatshel
Number of blocks: 11
Number of municipalities: NA
Candidates:
1. Sherig Dentshog, 34
2. Sonam Dhendup, 34
3. Choining Dorji, 47
4. Sangay Wangchuk, 56
5. Jamtsho, 53
Punakha
Number of blocks: 11
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Rinchen Dorji, 27
2. Namgay Wangchuk, 41
3. Kinley Wangchuk, 43
4. Dechen Thaiye Dorji, 31
5. Sonam, 40
6. Tsencho Wangdi, 33
7. Lhaki Dolma, 40
8. Dr. Dechen Zangmo, 52
Samdrup Jongkhar
Number of blocks: 11
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Jigme Wangchuk, 38
2. Tshelthrim Dukar, 39
3. Kelzang Phuntsho, 36
4. Sangay Tenzin, 45
5. Tshewang Tenzin, 30
6. Ugyen Dorji, 41
Samtse
Number of blocks: 15
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Ngawang Nidup, 28
2. Badrinath Bhattarai, 59
3. Chhatrapati Phuyel, 51
4. Narayan Dahal, 40
5. Dhan Kumar Ghalley, 51
6. Tirtha Man Rai, 31
7. Shadeo Rai, 27
8. Ugyen Lama, 29
9. Samten Lepcha, 35
Sarpang
Number of blocks: 12
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Dhan Bahadur Monger, 38
2. Tshering Penjor, 30
3. Tshering Norbu, 36
4. Khari Lal Gurung, 35
5. Pema Tashi, 33
6. Ugyen Tshering Dorji, 48
7. Anand Rai, 35
Thimphu
Number of blocks: 8
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Tshewang Rinzin, 54
2. Sangay Tshering, 28
3. Tshokey Dorji, 33
4. Nima Gyeltshen, 34
5. Leki Tshering, 39
Trashi Yangtse
Number of blocks: 8
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Tashi Phuntsho, 46
2. Phurpa Gyeltshen, 39
3. Sonam Tenzin, 31
4. Ngawang Tashi, 35
5. Thinley, 36
6. Karma Gyeltshen, 35
Trashigang
Number of blocks: 15
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Ugyen Phuntsho, 25
2. Lhatu, 51
3. Sonam Tobgay, 38
4. Jamyang, 30
5. Chheki Wangchuk, 52
6. Ugyen Dorji, 28
7. Pema Wangda, 31
Trongsa
Number of blocks: 5
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Samdrup, 42
2. Tharchen, 38
3. Gyem Dorji, 42
Tsirang
Number of blocks: 12
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Tashi Norbu, 38
2. Sonam Tobgay, 29
3. Kencho Wangmo, 42
4. Kamal Bahadur Gurung, 51
5. Ramesh Chhetri Bhandari, 33
6. Hom Nath Thapa, 30
7. Dhan Kumar Sunwar, 31
8. Sangay Tamang, 34
9. Nim Karma Sherpa, 56
10. Mingma Dorji Lama, 30
11. Nado Rinchen, 30
12. Tara Bir Chuwan, 36
13. Lok Nath Tiwari, 31
Wangdue Phodrang
Number of blocks: 15
Number of municipalities 1
Candidates:
1. Tashi Dorji, 37
2. Passang Thrinlee, 59
3. Thinley, 34
4. Dawa Tshering, 30
5. Rada Wangchuk, 27
Zhemgang
Number of blocks: 8
Number of municipalities: 1
Candidates:
1. Rinchen, 51
2. Pema Drakpa, 49
3. Sonam Leki, 38
4. Dorji Cheten, 38
5. Sangay Dorji, 57