Sergithang – Tsirangtoed, Tsirang

Registered voters: 13,157 | Male: 6,690 | Female: 6,467

Gopal Thapa

Age: 56

Work experience: 32 years as civil servant under the Ministry of Education

Education: Master of Education on Curriculum and Instruction, from Rangsit University in Thailand

A book that inspires you?

‘Confidence Man’ by Maggie Haberman

Your stand on the use of titles and symbols once out of office?

Pretty straight.   

Your motto in life is…? 

Failure is the turning point of success.     

Do you need power to serve the people or country? 

Absolutely yes, yes we are hopeful to get a strong mandate and deliver as we promise.

If you could lead a group on a dream adventure tour in Bhutan, where would you take them?

Phobjikha valley 

What was the biggest challenge you faced during your campaign and what could be done to address that?  

Too many restrictions by the ECB to reach the voters, such as: approvals needed to visit their own constituency, no door to door campaigns, difficult to gather people especially during peak harvesting seasons, people are not serious about the politics. 

There should be certain limitations for restrictions, any type of campaigning must be allowed, no election should happen during the harvesting and plantation seasons. 

BTP’s priority is quality service delivery. Cite a few examples of changes you would bring if elected. 

Remove all obsolete rules that are hindering the smooth flow delivery of services

Universal basic income to elderly citizens and disabled citizens, torch bearer for LGBTQI and minority societies. 

Teacher attrition is a serious problem. As a former teacher, what can be done to address the issue?

Yes, that is absolutely true, teachers’ attrition is turning out to be a serious issue, trained teachers are draining out and creating a huge shortage. One reason could be they are unsatisfied with IWP (individual work plan), it is not aligning with their job pattern, another reason could be they are pretty confident in facing IELTS and other test and could be green pastures.

We need to change IWP and need teachers’ friendly assessment to address the issue, reduce the workload to 18 hours per week, bring down the class size to 1:15, more professional training within and abroad, teacher friendly curriculum, digitalize classroom, encourage for long term training such as Master and PhD programmes, speedy promotion and rewards system are a few attractive areas to detain them. 

What if you win and your party loses?

 Stay as strong opposition, look for the government actions on such burning issues. support the government if they are positive towards the pledges and oppose if they move out from their manifesto, strong stand on laws making process.  

Lhakpa Tshering Tamang

Age: 33

Work experience: 9 years working experience at tourism and Bhutan Real Estate as a CEO

Education: Graduate

A book that inspires you? 

Everything, nothing and someone by Alice.

Your stand on the use of titles and symbols once out of office? 

I personally would remain the same and not boast about tiles and symbols once out of office but if a person feels comfortable to use titles and symbols even after office I am okay with it

Your motto in life is…? 

To serve Tsawa Sum.

Do you need power to serve the people or country?

Yes power of support and encouragement.

If you could lead a group on a dream adventure tour in Bhutan, where would you take them?

To Tsirang because tourists don’t have to pay SDF and it’s the best place for agriculture tours.

What was the biggest challenge you faced during your campaign and what could be done to address that?

To reach people door to door. Time constraint.

PDP emphasises tourism development. Given your experience in the sector, what will you do for your constituency in this sector?

To promote tourism in my constituency especially to promote farmhouse, agri tour, farming, and fruit festival.

PDP aims for youth inclusion. How do you plan to involve and empower young entrepreneurs?

To give jobs within the county but if they want to do business I really have support for them.

What if you win and your party loses?

I will definitely serve Tsawa Sum.