Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s (DPT) Party President Dorji Wangdi and its candidate for the Chhoekhor_Tang bye-election, Tenzin Norbu began the election campaign from Tang Gewog yesterday. The party didn’t offer any new pledges but instead said it is not the time to make new pledges amid the economic meltdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
DPT’s President said the party’s main mandate is to ensure the timely completion of activities already budgeted in the current Five Year Plan. He also said Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa’s pledges of blacktopping farm roads and recruiting medical specialists in Bumthang are unreasonable.
“There are few Dzongkhags where the district roads are not even fully blacktopped such as Gasa, Samtse and Yangbari to Pemagatshel highway. There is no money to finance the previous pledges, that’s why they are not being delivered as of now. So when they come up with new pledges, it will confuse the voters and a free and fair election can’ be achieved,” said Dorji Wangdi, the President of DPT.
This has left the voters confused.
“One party says there is enough budget to blacktop the farm roads while the other says due to he financial distress caused by the COVID-19, there is no budget and civil servant’s allowances have also been deducted. That’s why the people are now confused as to what the truth really is,” questioned Phuntsho Dorji, from Tandigang under Tang in Bumthang.
“The Prime Minister promised to recruit four medical specialists at Wangdicholing Hospital while the Opposition Leader says it is impossible due to budget issues. So, we can’t trust anyone now,” shared Dorji Wangdi, also from Tandigang.
“People are like children in the eyes of politicians. They become easily swayed when one party comes up with pledges. But we haven’t got an absolute assurance as of now. However, when a party pledges, I think they have to deliver them by any means,” added Lekey Wangdi, from Kidzom under Tang.
DPT’s candidate Tenzin Norbu says the country already has a budget deficit of Nu 29bn at the beginning of the current Five Year Plan and the deficit will aggravate due to the pandemic.
“There is already budget deficit for the planned activities and the Opposition Leader has made it clear through figures and data. So it’s completely unreasonable on the part of the government to declare new pledges for their candidate. The Prime Minister always talks about making rational promises, so the voters must know what’s rational and what’s not,” he said.
DPT will continue campaigning at Tang tomorrow.
Kipchu
