Three rounds of council elections and Trongsa has never passed the seat to an incumbent.

Incumbent Tharchen had the upper hand by the end of postal ballot count. He secured 622 postal ballots. Trailing behind was Tashi Samdrup with 614, and Gyem Dorji with 339.

The lead was short-lived, however.

Tashi Samdrup is the new council-elect from Trongsa. He secured a total vote of 2,309. Tharchen followed closely with 2,005 votes. Gyem Dorji got 1,344 votes.

Soon after the declaration of results, Tashi Samdrup was bombarded with messages and calls. He was in his house and had sent his representative at the counting centre.

“I am very excited,” Tashi Samdrup said.

Given the fact that he was contesting against the incumbent, who was quite popular, and another with ample experience, he said the fight was tough.

“I was expecting the same outcome as this is my second time contesting and people know me,” he said.

His first task, he said, was to familiarise with the legislative system, study the laws and policies.

“It is my aspiration to serve the people of Mangde Tsho Zhi and the country,” he said.

Of the dzongkhag’s 10,034 eligible voters, 5,677 cast their votes.

Kinley Pem, 79, was accompanied by her daughter at the Bjizam Polling station.

“The least I can do as a responsible citizen is participate in the elections,” he said.

Tshering Dema, a voter, had travelled all the way from Samdrupjongkhar where she works.

Tshering Dorji | Trongsa