The government’s pledge to establish an office for MP in every constituency failed to make it to the priority list.

Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said that the government pledged office for MPs in the constituencies but that would be set up based on need.

He said that it was not possible for MPs and ministers to be in their constituency for 12 months.

“We cannot afford to set up an unnecessary office that does not have much use,” he said.

The government, he said, would see where such offices were needed depending on the distance of the constituency from the capital. “We need not rush. We need not have office for MP in all 47 constituencies.”

He added that the government did not have adequate time during the election to clarify its plan of setting up constituency-based MP office.

Gangzur Minjey MP Kinga Penjor said that the people felt the need for an office where they could communicate their grievance.

He said that there should be a common office with different rooms for all the MPs from different constituencies in a particular dzongkhag where people can come to meet them.

“Such type of office can be run with common office staff and we don’t need multiple staff members in every constituencies,” he said.

MP Kinley Wangchuk from Athang-Thedtsho said that he could visit his constituency even without having an office.

He added: “We have to priorities our needs.”

MB Subba

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