When the Election Commission started scrutinizing the nominations of the LG candidates, several were disqualified for various reasons. And while this has resulted in less competition in the Gup elections, some chiwogs have now been left with no Tshogpa candidates at all. In Lhuentse, the people of Dekaling-Tshochhen Chiwog under Tsaenkhar Gewog will have to wait to elect their Tshogpa due to a lack of candidates.
Dekaling-Tshochhen Chiwog is one of the largest and highest populated among the five chiwogs in Tsaenkhar Gewog. There are more than a thousand people residing in the Chiwog across 21 villages. Despite that, the chiwog will not hold its Tshogpa elections on the 22nd of December due to lack of candidates.
The people say there are many interested youngsters in the chiwog. But they decided to step aside for the two experienced seniors who were contesting for the post.
Karmo, a resident of Sangphu village says she had a mind to contest at first. “But I thought someone experienced would be better for the post, so I decided not to take part,” she said.
“Most of us thought that an elder would serve better. We thought of learning from them and then maybe contest in the future,” said Namgay Wangchuk.
“While talking to the people, they wanted someone experienced. That’s why most of the young ones did not take part,” said Sangay, from Kharphu village
The two candidates were, however, disqualified by the ECB since they were found to be registered as members of political parties.
One of the disqualified Tshogpa Candidates, Naksela, says he didn’t believe it at first. “I went to the Election office, but then I saw it with my own eyes. I was still registered as a party member,” he said. “I appealed to the office but they said it can’t be accepted.”
The other candidate Phurba Dorji said, “I wanted to contest in the elections and hoped to give it my best. But I got disqualified and everyone knows.”
But with a lot of interested young men and women, the people of Dekaling-Tshochhen Chiwog need not worry too much. An election official said the dates for the Tshogpa election in the chiwog will be announced later.
Dorji Gyaltshen, Lhuentse
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
