Ministers and parliament members cannot undertake trips or official tours to a demkhong during the election period

LG: Trongsa’s National Council (NC) member Tharchen is expected to leave his dzongkhag today following the dzongkhag election authority’s notification that was served to him on August 12.

The dzongkhag served him with the notification after learning about his presence in the dzongkhag, which is disallowed by the Election Act during the election period.

The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) also issued a notification cautioning Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament to refrain from visiting their constituencies including for official trips during the second phase of local government elections (August 9 to September 27).

NC member Tharchen, through an SMS, said he was in his constituency on official work. He said he had been there even before the ECB’s notification.

He said he was there for two reasons of which one was due to the possibility of His Majesty The King visiting the dzongkhag and the other was to assess the damages caused by the monsoon. “Even the MPs in Bumthang were in their constituencies recently,” he said.

“I received a notice from the dzongkhag and I have responded appropriately,” he said, adding that he is leaving today.

“Dzongkhag Election Authority served the MP with a letter reminding him of the ECB’s notification that states no minister or MP shall undertake trips or official tour to a Demkhong during election period,” Dzongkhag Chief Election Coordinator, Trongsa Dzongdag Sonam Rinchen said.

He also said they are hopeful that the MP respects and honours the rule of law.

Nima Wangdi | Trongsa

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