Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

With Rinchending constituency’s lone thrompon candidate through the dhamngoi zomdu, Phuentsholing thromde now has four hopefuls vying for the thrompon’s post officially. 

Karma Gelay, 53, secured 16 “yes” and 12 “no” votes at the zomdu yesterday.  Of the 101 eligible voters in the demkhong, only 28 turned out to vote, making it the lowest voter turnout in the zomdus conducted so far. 

The other three candidates have served the thromde in various capacities, including the thrompon.

Uttar Kumar Rai, 39, was the former thrompon. Chhungku Dawa, 40, was the former thromde tshogpa of Phuentsholing Maed demkhong, and Devi Charan Dhimal, 56, was the former Phuentsholing thromde engineer.

Chhungku Dawa is also the only woman candidate in the race. 

Phuentsholing thromde, meanwhile, has a total of 922 eligible voters.  Phuentsholing Toed demkhong has the highest number of voters with 201. 

Observers say Pasakha and Pekharzhing, without thrompon candidates, will play an important factor in the upcoming election.  These constituencies have 138 and 194 eligible voters respectively. 

The last date to file the contestant’s nominations is scheduled for March 29.  The campaign will start on April 2.