Phurpa Lhamo

Wangdue elected eight new gups on Wednesday. Five former gups were also re-elected.

Nyisho and Dangchu gewogs will hold their gup election in January.

Former gups of Athang and Thedtsho lost the election.

According to Athang’s gup-elect Dawa Gyeltshen, people of the gewog often chose to change local government leaders every few years for new ideas.

“People feel that with development in technology, there is a need for younger minds. Also, there is more support from the younger generation for a younger candidate,” he said.

Dawa Gyeltshen, served as a mangmi previously.




Athang had two gup candidates.

Chador is the gup-elect of Thedtsho gewog.

In Phobjikha, Ruebisa, Phangyul, Gasetshowom, and Nahi, former gups won the election.

Phobjikha’s gup-elect, Jamtsho, who has already served two terms as a gup, said that he had focused on developing basic necessities such as water, road and bridges during his term. “I am grateful for the support I got from the people.”

On people choosing newer candidates, Gasetshogom’s gup-elect, Chado, said that with changing times, people tend to choose educated candidates for LG positions.

He added that with a sufficient budget for the local government, it would be inconvenient if the leaders do not have the capacity to take their responsibilities seriously.




Chado, a former teacher, secured more than 400 votes.

Athang, Kazhi, Gangtey, Dakar, Gasetshogom, Sephu, Bjena, and Thedtsho elected new gups.

In the Wangdue thromde ngotshab elections Kinley Dorji secured 282 votes, defeating Kinley Tenzin who secured 217 votes.

Wangdue thromde has 819 registered voters.

Issues

In Wangdue, like in many other dzongkhags, voters and the majority of candidates went to sleep before the results were declared.




According to a gup-elect, he knew about the results only yesterday.

A friend of his shared an online post announcing his victory.

Some candidates waited past midnight at the Returning Officer’s offices in Bajo for results.

One candidate said that compilation could have been delayed because results were collected from mobile booths, facilitation booths, and abroad.

“Supporters continuously called me about the results. They said that the results for their gewogs weren’t being telecast on BBS,” said one gup-elect.

Many pointed out issues with the electronic voting machine (EVM), internet connectivity, and compilation of the postal ballots.

In Gase Tshogom, the EVM malfunctioned after around 20 individuals cast their votes who were called to vote again.

“Despite issues, the dzongkhag election officer and other officials were there to respond immediately,” said a gup-elect.

Wangdue has 21,799 registered voters. There were 78 polling stations and one extended polling booth in the dzongkhag.