Elections: Party workers in Trongsa and Bumthang have resigned and shed their affiliations from political entities to contest in upcoming local government (LG) and thromde elections.

As per election Act, member of political parties should have attained a cooling period of one year to be eligible to contest in the elections.

In Trongsa, both People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) party coordinators submitted their resignation letter in 2015 to compete in the upcoming LG and thromde elections. At least five members of DPT in Bumthang resigned in 2015.

The two prominent party offices have accepted resignation offers and de-registered the members accordingly.

“From the dzongkhag party office, the resignation letter was forwarded to head office in Thimphu, from where the individuals were de-registered from the party. Accordingly, the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) was notified about the development,” said Palden Dorji, DPT’s party coordinator for Bumthang.

Gyembo, PDP’s party coordinator in Trongsa said: “I have received the de-registration letter from the party office.” He added that although he has not received confirmation letter from ECB, the details of deregistration is updated in the system immediately.

Gyembo will stand for the position of gup in the upcoming LG election. Sonam Tobgay, 62, DPT’s party coordinator in Trongsa said that he resigned because of his age.

Palden Dorji said that some party members started resigning immediately after the 2013 elections either to contest in elections or for other reasons.

“In their resignation letter, they had all mentioned plans to contest in the LG elections as reasons for seeking de-registration from the party,” Palden Dorji said.

From DPT, at least a member each from Chokhortoe, Chamkhar and Tangsibe in Ura resigned to contest in the elections. Others are planning to contest in LG elections. One of the former DPT party workers, Pema Dawa, will be contesting for the post of thrompon.

In Bumthang, PDP’s former dzongkhag party coordinator, Jampel, resigned last year, handing over the office to the party’s current coordinator, Ugyen Dorji.

Ugyen Dorji said that he has not received any resignation letters since he took over as the new party worker for PDP in 2015.

“Anyone found registered with the political parties or failing to fulfil one year cooling period at the time of filing of nominations would be disqualified,” an official from electoral office said.

Tempa Wangdi, Trongsa

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