After candidates of Draagteng_Langthel constituency in Trongsa decided to not campaign door to door, the candidates are campaigning over the phone.

Representatives of the four political parties in Trongsa’s Draateng-Langthel constituency summited a letter to the returning officer (RO) requesting not to conduct a door- to-door campaigning in the constituency on September 5.

Party representatives of Nubi-Tangsiji constituencies have started door-to-door campaigning, which will be completed on September 12.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa candidate Gyem Dorji said he is campaigning over the telephone. “My party coordinator is also campaigning only at the village and not going door to door,” he said.

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa candidate Ugyen Namgyal said that as agreed, he didn’t go anywhere for campaigning. We are campaigning over the phone. “I came with party president and I am here at Nimshong, but I am not campaigning as such,” he said.

People’s Democratic Party’s candidate Namgay Dorji said, “As decided, I don’t want to go anywhere from the road point. I am already here at Bumthang for the last two nights at my elder sister’s place,” Namgay Dorji said.

Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party candidate Karma Galey said he stayed in Trongsa town for few days and with poll day approaching, he said he is visiting his village, Korphu. “I told other candidates that we should strictly follow our agreement,” he said.

The party candidates said that the main reason for doing away with door-to-door campaigning was curb corruption and to maintain harmony in the community.

As of now, no campaign related issue has been reported to the returning officer (RO).

RO Kinzang Tobgye said there is no restriction on candidates to go out of their home dzongkhags. 

Election officials have started sealing the EVM machines and preparing for the poll day. 

Trongsa has 22 polling stations. A total of 44 EVM machines will be deployed to all polling stations. The remaining 22 machines would be use as a backup, election official said.

Ugyen Dorji | Trongsa