… the party introduced its Panbang candidate yesterday 

Chencho Dema 

Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) declared seven candidates from seven dzongkhags on January 14 in Punakha.

They will represent the party from constituencies in Chukha, Gasa, Haa, Punakha, Samtse, Thimphu, and Trashigang.

Rinchen Wangdi, former Gross National Happiness Commission secretary, is the candidate from Bartsham-Shongphu, Trashigang.

The 52-year-old contributed to developing the 21st Century Economic Roadmap which is currently being used as the basis for the formulation of the 13th five-year plan. He has a Master’s in Development Economics from Australian National University. He is a father of three.

Ritu Raj Chhetri, 54, is a legal expert with a background in Environmental law from the Australian National University, LLB degree from the University of Mumbai and BA (Hons) in Political Science from Delhi University.

He will be contesting from Tashichhoeling, Samtse. He was a member of parliament of National Assembly between 2013 and 2018. He is also a vice president of the party.

The former member of National Council from Chukha, Pema Tenzin,  will contest from Bongo-Chapcha constituency. For the last four years, Pema Tenzin has served as Business Director for a High Net Worth Individual who owns TF Holding Ltd.

The 45-year-old has a Master of Business Administration from Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia, and a Bachelor of Commerce from Sherubtse College. He is also a vice president of the party.

Gyambo Sithey (PhD), author of ‘Drukyul Decides’ will contest from Lingmukha-Toedwang constituency in Punakha.

The 51-year-old researcher has served as the national nutrition programme manager and as a World Bank Project Coordinator for HIV and AIDS in the Ministry of Health for 12 years before resigning to join the private sector in 2008.

He has a Master of Science in Nutrition, a Post-graduate Degree in Public Administration and a PhD in Public Health from the University of Sydney in Australia. He is married with two daughters and two sons.

BTP’s North Thimphu candidate is 39-year-old Sonam Penjor (PhD). He has a Doctorate in International Business and Global Management from European International University, Paris, France, an MBA in Hotel and Tourism Management from Cesar Ritz, Switzerland and a BBA in Marketing and HR Management from the University of New Brunswick, Canada.

Before joining politics, he was the Chairperson of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan (HRAB), and Executive Committee Board Director of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). He is married with a daughter.

Ugyen Dem, 30, will represent Khatoed-Laya constituency in Gasa. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Dzongkha and more than 5 years of experience in teaching. Ugyen Dem is a mother of one.

Ugyen Dem was also a researcher with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital for six months in 2017.

Ngawang Tobgay, 33, is Bhutan Tendrel Party’s candidate from Sombaykha constituency in Haa. ‘An experienced and dynamic lawyer’ has a Post-graduate Diploma in National Law from the Royal Institute of Management and an LLB from Diwan Law College, Meerut, India.

The party also introduced Dorji Cheten as its candidate from Panbang constituency in Zhemgang yesterday.

Dorji Cheten, 42,  is ‘a financial and economic expert’ who has worked in Bhutan’s financial sector for more than 10 years and another 10 years in the private sector. He has a Master’s degree in International Economics and Finance.

Before joining politics, Dorji Cheten was an Asian Development Bank consultant and worked as a national economic and finance expert for the government’s Water

Flagship Programme Project.