Bongo – Chapchha, Chukha

Registered voters: 16,426 | Male: 8,091 | Female: 8,335

Pema Tenzin 

Age: 45

Work experience: 23 years, former National Council member

Education: Masters in Business Administration

One sentence that best describes your life?

I am zealous to learn, support the youth and bring changes to the community with equal focus to private sector development.

You were in a different profession till now, why politics?

To support the younger generations supporting the youth to get experience and opportunities. The private sector which is lagging requires immediate attention—creation of opportunities for the sectors that has remained unsupported is my priority. The communities in Bongo-Chapchha that has remained under inadequate government priority is the reason why I chose politics. 

Your party symbol is elephant, how well does your personality match with the elephant?

Elephant symbolizes wisdom, prosperity and economic growth—the symbol aligns with BTPs vision of prosperous Bhutan. I am also concerned in improving the wisdom of our people, prosperity in the nation and an economic growth in the country. 

What makes you confident that the voters would vote for you with the same support as in the primary round?

I have come here at my rural community leaving behind the luxurious life I had—to serve, to bring growth and bring change. The voters of my constituency have seen me stand out till now, during the primary round and Vice President’s debate. The voters have looked for competence of the representative—being able to visit the village several times not just for vote but to ensure I see everything well and looks for areas to develop unlike other candidates is what I feel as my strength. 

Your priority for your constituency if elected

Bunakha reservoir, agriculture produce at good rate and price, school upgradation and blacktopping of all chiwog roads is the priority at Chapchha gewog. For Chapcho gewog, Tsimasham and Tsimakoti will witness a town-planning, house construction approval and reviving Tsimasham’s lost economic opportunities ensuring Bunakha hydro reservoir benefits the people around. Gedu throm planning, extension of LPG services, petroleum and diesel, supporting hotels and tourism growth, upgrading and supporting more courses for Gedu college that allows exchange opportunities, an artificial turf is also planned for the students and the community. Similarly, Bongo gewog is also a priority—blacktopping of roads, irrigation and drinking water supply, that will help promotion of agricultural produces and good market system. 

The plan is to have a ‘mimang zhapto tewa’ in every gewog. 

Darla gewog has a good market, throm planning is a must. We wish to make sure, the opportunity we have becomes our strength and improve community. This is possible if we connect Darla with Pasakha and Phuentsholing—the economic opportunities will broaden if the support and plan goes well. 

Moreover, Bongo-Chapchha can lead in areas such as dairy products, bee-hive raising, cardamon, Mandarin, and coffee plantation—youth will get skills and training opportunities. 

Easy flow of drugs through the porous borders is one of the main issues facing our youth as much as unemployment is. What solutions have you thought of?

Drugs is not really a problem in Bongo-Chapchha. Yet, border security should be encouraged and tightened. Most importantly, the youths should be educated and drugs awareness programmes will be actively prioritized. Encouraging and supporting business ideas and skills for the youth will drastically change these issues. 

What do you say about your opponent? Which area do you think he requires improvement? 

Strong party support but he will take time to bring changes in these five gewogs. People must understand, representing the parliament till the grassroot local government level requires time, experience and competence. 

Pempa

Age: 42

Work experience: 10 years experience of working under various agencies and government sectors

Education: Bachelor’s degree from North Eastern Hill University and also a Diploma in office management from Bangalore India

One sentence that best describes your life?

Dedicated and determined with experience and enthusiasm. 

You were in a different profession till now, why politics?

After having worked in various agencies for certain years; the Parliament is the position that has huge potential in decision making and creating difference—this is why I am taking part again to help the local communities. 

Your party symbol is a horse, how well does your personality match with the horse?

Horse as our party symbol ties with my personality. For example, a horse is an able animal that can carry heavy loads not to mention the light weight—the representation is on the duty and responsibility. The party aims to carry forward huge responsibility for the nation meeting the smaller requirements. 

The horse, irrespective of any weather condition is ready to serve its master—so does PDP for a better Drukyul. The pledges and manifesto we have envisioned will be delivered to the benefit of the public.

What makes you confident that the voters would vote for you with the same support as in the primary round?

As the result in the primary round narrated its own big story for PDP, the party president is well known across the globe with experience, expertise and ability. Now in the general round as well, we trust the citizens. Foremost, the constituents can relate me with the themselves as I come from a rural background. Secondly, the experience of serving the nation already and meeting the needs of the public to the best of my abilities. And also, all the candidates are well experienced with ability to serve the nation better—this the citizens know better and we are waiting for a fruitful result.

Your priority for your constituency if elected

Bongo-Chapcha is in need of major support and rural transformation. The need for better road condition and connectivity is one of my priorities. Moreover, youth in the country require adequate support and facility. For instance, school, health care and services reaching the rural parts of the constituency. 

Similarly, in areas where the population is feasible, we pledge to provide a medical doctor each with a lady nurse to care the patients. 

The water supply, irrigation water, bridges repair and new construction, electricity and LPG supply, better internet connectivity and revival of the local economy are some of our major areas of interest. 

Easy flow of drugs through the porous borders is one of the main issues facing our youth as much as unemployment is. What solutions have you thought of?

There is an increase in the report of youth being caught in drugs case these day—the reason is clear; no job that the youth is interested to take up with appreciative salary. As a short-term solution, the CCTV surveillance and strict checking is working well. Yet in the long run, awareness campaign involving the relevant agencies should be made robust to reach to the root cause—once that is done, improving the employment opportunities targeted towards the unemployed youth will help in bringing down the issues drastically. For example, paid voluntary services for the individuals will keep the unemployed youth away for getting involved in such cases.  

What do you say about your opponent? Which area do you think he requires improvement? 

Eligible and qualified—yet, he already had the chance of working in national council. He had the chance to improve the situation of the constituency, prove himself which he did not deliver well.