The voters of Lhuentse are busy in their farms even though the campaign period is at its peak.

In the far-flung villages, most farmers are busy harvesting paddy so that they don’t lose it to wild boars and the unseasonal wind.

Nobody talks about politics and when asked why, they are still reluctant.

“We have been instructed not to talk about politics, and if we are found doing so, we were warned that we would be in trouble,” a villager said.

In the primary round, the district was divided with DNT and DPT winning a constituency each.

Gangzur-Minjey constituency went for change in the primary round and was the only constituency in the east to vote for DNT.

“Besides other supporters he has a big family and relatives, which may have played a role in the primary round,” a voter from Gangzur gewog said.

DPT won in Maenbi-Tsaenkhar constituency in the primary round.

Observers say, the fate of the party in the general round would be decided by PDP and BKP supporters.

As of now supporters of PDP and BKP have joined both DNT and DPT making the outcome unpredictable.

“I was a PDP supporter but after my party lost I have decided to support DPT,” Zangmo, 46, from Gangzur said.

Tshering Namgyal | Lhuentse