Incumbent thrompon will be put to the first test today

Election: Preparing to resign today and then attend the zomdu (meeting) for candidate nomination later in the afternoon, Phuentsholing thrompon Tsheten Dorji was a relaxed man until yesterday evening.

All this changed by late evening and the thrompon would be facing his first test to run for a second term.

A new candidate has declared his interest and he will be competing with the incumbent from the same constituency, Phuentsholing Mead (core town area). In the zomdu today, the nomination from the constituency will be finalized through voting.

Until yesterday, the town voters did not know that Phuentsholing Maed had a contestant. Tandin Wangchuk, 26, surprised all including Thrompon Tsheten Dorji.

The Commerce graduate (2011) is upbeat about his chances of winning from the constituency.

“Like the current thrompon I also did not get much time to prepare for this,” he said, adding that the announcement on today’s zomdu was sudden.

Tandin Wangchuk is already thinking about what needs to be done to the town. “There is a need for a real development to take place,” he said. “Despite the huge opportunity, Phuentsholing has not developed.”

The few who came to know about the new candidate are happy with the surprise and are already contemplating.

Tandin Wangchuk has about 28 votes in his family, said one. “The short time left for the incumbent to prepare will be an advantage to him,” he said.

There are 144 voters in Phuentsholing Maed. From what people shared until yesterday evening, there would not be much voters today.

There are six constituencies in Phuentsholing.

Nyedra constituency could nominate 2011 contestant, Uttar Rai, 34, who had decided to run for the post for the second time.

A father of one, who is a businessman based in Thimphu said he would plan and act accordingly this time.

“I need to concentrate so that I wont get misguided,” Uttar Rai said.

Uttar Rai knows what voters or at least the resident feel is important. He said housing is a major concern in the town. Roads and developing the local area plans are the main issues he will focus. “If these were solved and implemented, housing problems would automatically get solved,” he said.

Rinchending constituency will see a candidate at the zomdu today. Jigme Dorji, 28, the fourth contestant will appear for the nominee today. The private employee was heading towards Phuentsholing yesterday evening, it was learned.

Pasakha, Phuentsholing Toed, and Pekharzhing did not have any candidate as of yesterday evening.

There are only 712 voters in Phuentsholing thromde.

An interested candidate has to win by a majority from his constituency to be accepted as a nominee. A lone candidate will be subjected to the “yes’ and “no” votes at the zomdus.

Rajesh Rai, Phuentsholing