Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party (BKP) announced the former finance secretary Lam Dorji as its candidate from Haa’s Bji-Katsho-Uesu constituency at the opening of its dzongkhag party office yesterday.

The 61-year-old from Dumcho village in Uesu gewog retired from the civil service in July 2016 after serving for nearly four decades, mostly in the finance ministry.

A press release from the party states that Lam Dorji has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wales in the UK. He worked as a consultant for UNDP in matters related to fiscal decentralisation and sustainable financing and gave talks on national economy and finance management.

He was appointed as finance secretary in March 2008, just before the first democratic elections. Prior to that, he served as a secretary with the erstwhile Planning Commission for about four years.

Lam Dorji, according to the press release, said he was inspired by Dasho Neten’s leadership and joined her team with a hope of redefining politics and ensuring that means are equally important in achieving a successful end.

The press release also stated that Lam Dorji expressed his appreciation on the perseverance of Sonam Tobgay, the founder of BKP who singlehandedly kept the institution relevant for the last nine years.

It also stated that BKP president, Dasho Neten Zangmo said that she had known Lam Dorji as a hardworking and conscientious officer and is immensely glad at the prospect of working with him to take forward the party’s agenda of mindful governance and GNH conscious socio-economic development.

“In having him as our candidate from Bji-Katsho-Uesu constituency, we are sending across the message that our party is committed to serving the nation and its people through a strong team of experienced, competent and conscientious party candidates,” it stated.

The party’s vice president, Sonam Tobgay said they are pleased to have a person of Lam Dorji’s reputation and experience in their party. “His vast knowledge and experience of public finance management and economic prudence will help the party to successfully pursue its objective of national economic development in a sustainable and equitable manner,” it stated.

At the launch of the dzongkhag office, BKP stressed that Haa is the birthplace of modern education in Bhutan for having started the country’s first school in 1914.

BKP stated that the Haa valley also takes pride in receiving Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit in 1958 with his daughter Indira Gandhi that laid the foundation for Indo-Bhutan friendship underpinned by mutual trust and mutual respect.

Staff reporter

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