With the National Council election just around the corner, aspiring candidates have started registering with the Election Commission of Bhutan. The commission has received registration of 130 aspiring candidates as of now. Of them, 122 are male and 8 are female.
As of now, Sarpang stands at the top of the table with 19 aspiring candidates registered for the upcoming NC elections.
At the bottom of the table are Bumthang, Gasa, Haa, Trashi Yangtse, and Trongsa with only two aspiring candidates each so far.
From Bumthang, two aspiring National Council candidates, one each from Tang and Bumthang town have registered with the ECB as of now.
Likewise, Chukhha has four aspiring candidates from Bongo, Loggchina, Phuentshogling, and the thromde.
In Dagana, eight aspiring candidates have registered to contest the upcoming NC election.
Two each are from Drujeygang and Gozhi and Gesarling, Kana, Tsendagang, and Tseza have one each.
In addition, Gasa has two aspiring candidates. They are from Khatoed and Laya.
Similarly, Haa has two aspiring candidates from Samar and Sangbay as of now.
Lhuentse has three, one each from Jarey, Maenbi, and Minjey.
Likewise, nine aspiring candidates from Monggar have registered with ECB. Five of them are from Chagsakhar, Na-rang, Gongdue, Ngatshang, and Kengkhar respectively and two each are from Shermung and Tsamang.
Paro has seven aspiring candidates, one each from Dokar, Loong-nyi, and Wangchang and two aspiring candidates each from Lamgong and Shaba.
In Pema Gatshel, five aspiring candidates have given their names to the ECB. Two are from Dechhenling, and Nanong respectively and three are from Shumar Gewog.
Punakha has six aspiring candidates. Talog and Toepisa Gewogs have two candidates each and Dzomi and Shelnga-Bjimaed have one aspiring candidate each.
Similarly, 11 aspiring candidates from Samdrup Jongkhar have registered so far. Dewathang, Langchhenphug, Lauri, Serthig, and the Thromde have registered a candidate each. Gomdar, Pemathang and Matshala have registered two aspiring candidates each.
In Samtse there are 11 aspiring candidates for the National Council. Two are from Nogaygang, and one each from Pemaling, Duenchhukha, Dophugchen, Tashi-chhoeling and Norboogang. And four are from Samtse town.
Sarpang has 19 aspiring candidates, one each from Gakiling, Chhuzagang, Umling, Jigme-Chhoeling, Singhi, Samtenling, Chuuzom, and the Thromde. Four of them are from Gelegphu Gewog and three are from Serzhong. Meanwhile, Dekidling and Shompangkha also have two aspiring candidates each.
Close to the least on ECB’s record, three candidates from Thimphu have registered so far from Chang, Genyen, and the Thromde.
Trashigang has five aspiring candidates, one from Kangpar and two each from Phongmaed and Radi.
Trashi Yangtse with one of the least numbers so far has an aspiring candidate each from Jamkhar and Yangtse.
Trongsa has three aspiring candidates, two from Nubi and one from Langthil.
And 12 aspiring candidates from Tsirang have registered with ECB, one each from Barshong, Gosarling, Mendrelgang, Sergithang, and Tsirang town. Patshaling and Semjong have two aspiring candidates each and three are from Tsholingkhar.
Wangdue Phodrang has nine aspiring NC candidates. Bjednag, Gangteng, Kazhi, and Saephug have an aspiring candidate each. Whereas, there are three candidates from Ruebisa and two from Darkarla.
Zhemgang has seven aspiring candidates. They are from Bardo, Bjoka, Goshing, Nangkor, Ngangla, Phangkhar, and Trong Gewogs respectively.
Meanwhile, of the 10 incumbent NC members aspiring to contest the NC election, eight have registered with the ECB so far.
The ECB says the number of aspiring candidates may change in the coming days as they will continue to receive aspiring candidates’ registration until the common forum or Dhamngoi zomdu begins.
According to the commission, in 2018, 127 candidates including six females contested the National Council elections. They were selected from 177 aspiring candidates following the selection process in the Dhamngoi Zomdu or common forums. The ECB held close to 290 common forums in the 20 districts for the 2018 NC elections.
The election commission says that the preparations for the upcoming NC elections are in full swing although it has yet to announce the exact dates of the elections.
Devika Pradhan
Edited by Phub Gyem
