Three aspiring National Council (NC) candidates made through the gewog nominations as of yesterday.

A former Druk Chirwant Tshogpa (DCT) candidate, Sonam Tenzin, 32, was nominated from Khamdang gewog after securing 302 votes against Dorji, who secured 208 votes.

Sonam Tenzin has a Bachelor’s degree in computer applications from Madras University in India.

From Ramjar gewog, Phurba Gyeltsen, 39, from Gocha village was nominated after securing 313 ‘yes’ votes and 18 ‘no’ votes.

He graduated with Bachelor’s of Arts (Dzongkha) from Sherubtse College in Kanglung in 2003 and worked with BBS as a news reporter and an editor.

From Tongmizhangsa, Ngawang Tashi, 35, secured 262 ‘yes’ votes against 27 ‘no’ votes. He has Bachelors of Arts (General) from North Bengal University, India.

Of the eight gewogs in the dzongkhag, Boomdeling, Toedtsho and Jamkhar gewogs have no aspiring candidates as of now.

The dzongkhag election officials said a lone aspiring women candidate from Trashiyangtse withdrew because of a domestic problem.

Khamdang gewog has the highest voter with about 3,085 resigtered voters. Ramjar has the lowest with about 1,662 voters.

Khamdang gewog, however, saw only 510 voters who came out to vote during the gewog nominations.

Wangdi, 61, came to vote at the Tsenkharla Central School multipurpose hall.

He said that voting  wasvery important. “We need a capable and right person, who benefit people and country at large to represent us.”

Kelzang Dechen, 23, from Normaring village, came to vote carrying her two-months-old baby.

She said that despite the daily work, voting for NC was conducted only after 5 years. “I didn’t want to miss the chance to caste my vote.”

Meanwhile, with the dhamghoi zomdu completed for four gewogs, election officials said that the voter turn out as of now has been low despite creating awareness. “People don’t take it seriously and just send only a member from a family to vote,” an election official said.

As of now, there are about seven NC candidates. However, election officials said that candidates could even declare their participation in the gewog zomdu and number might increase.

Including postal ballot, Trashiyangtse has a total of 18,314 eligible voters.

Dhamghoi zomdu will be conducted in Yangtse and Toedtsho on March 6.

The final gewog zomdu will be held on March 9 inJamkhar.

Ugyen Dorji | Trashiyangtse

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