KP Sharma

In what is considered one of the most important and election-decisive vote banks, the People’s Democratic Party pledged a regional referral hospital and a domestic airport if it is elected.

In addition, the party has pledged to establish an export processing zone to boost the country’s exports.

Explaining these promises to the constituents of the four constituencies in Samtse, Party President Tshering Tobgay highlighted the strategic advantage of Samtse’s location on the border for hosting a regional hospital similar to Gelephu and Mongar.

Tshering Tobgay said that the establishment of such a hospital would eliminate the need for people to travel to Thimphu for medical services, reducing expenses and providing convenient access to healthcare within their dzongkhag.

Regarding the concern of inadequate doctors in the country, Tshering Tobgay said that hiring retired professionals within the country is among the options to address the shortage. 

Highlighting on the construction of a domestic airport, Tobgay explained that the PDP initially planned to build five such airports in different locations, with Samtse being feasible based on its location and other relevant factors.

“Looking at the location and other relevant factors, I strongly feel that one is in Samtse,” he added.

Talking about transforming Samtse into an economic hub, Tshering Tobgay shared his party’s vision of making it an industrialized dzongkhag with a focus on manufacturing industries.

“All the exports in the country will route through Samtse,” he said.

The establishment of an export processing zone, he believes, would attract investors and create more economic opportunities for the region.

“We will make Samtse an industrialised dzongkhag with more manufacturing industries,” Tshering Tobgay said. 

Similar to commitments made in Haa, he also pledged to expedite the construction of the Haa-Samtse highway, extolling on the benefits residents of both dzongkhags will enjoy.

During the primary elections, the four constituencies of Samtse played a pivotal role in securing a landslide victory for the PDP, surpassing expectations with a substantial margin of victory.

PDP won 30 percent of the total voters registered in Samtse and obtained 12 percent votes for the party.

With a voter population of about 53,411, Samtse was the battleground where political parties left no stone unturned in their quest to capture the voter bank during the primary elections.