Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

The lone woman contestant in the upcoming thrompon election, Chhungku Dawa, 40, secured 42  votes at the Phuentsholing Maed (core town area) constituency dhamngoi zomdu yesterday.

Her competitor, Tandin Wangchuk, 31, secured 18 votes.

The voter turnout was only about 30 percent of the 198 eligible voters in the demkhong.

The turnout at the first dhamngoi zomdu of Neydra demkhong was 77 percent, as 65 out of the total eligible 84 voters had come to exercise their voting rights.

Observers say the low turnout for Phuentsholing Maed demkhong is because most eligible voters are away from the town.

Chhungku Dawa served as the thromde tshogpa from the demkhong before running for the thrompon election this time.

Meanwhile, the zomdu for Phuentsholing Toed constituency will be held today.  Former Phuentsholing thromde engineer, Devi Charan Dhimal, 56, will contest against 34-year old Deepen Ghallay.

Phuentsholing Toed has 206 eligible voters, the highest among all demkhongs.

From Rinchending constituency, a lone candidate, Karma Gelay, 53, will go for “yes” or “no” votes tomorrow. Rinchending has 106 eligible voters.

Meanwhile, Pasakha and Pekarzhing demkhongs don’t have any thrompon candidates this time.  These constituencies have 138 and 194 eligible voters respectively.

After the dhamngoi zomdus wrap up, the four contestants will have their eye on these two constituencies, observers say.

Phuentsholing thromde has a total of 926 eligible voters.