People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has 39 out of the required 47 candidates confirmed to battle it out in the 2013 elections. Of the confirmed 39, 15 are the previous candidates who contested for the party in 2008 parliamentary election. The number also include the two serving Members of Parliament.
The Party’s Secretary General of PDP, Yogesh Tamang, said they have a special committee formed whose task is to identify the candidates for the upcoming elections. He said they are looking for candidates who are capable and are willing to serve the country
Yogesh Tamang said they are expecting more support from the people in 2013 elections. “Just as opposition in the Parliament, people have seen the capabilities of PDP and what PDP can do… People should ask themselves how we have performed and whether they should believe in us.”
The Secretary General said it is not necessary to be a senior citizen to be a Party president.
“For Leadership it is not really important to have old ministers to lead a Party. It is also equally important for any political parties to give an opportunity to young leaders who have reasonable good qualification and experience to deal with government issues.”
He also said PDP is planning to have a minimum of 10 women candidates. “It is very difficult to get women candidates, as most of them are not willing to come forward.”
The Party submitted their new Party Symbol to the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) for the approval, last month. The new party symbol is a walking horse with zhu-dhen. Earlier they had a galloping horse.
They also have a research team working on the Party Manifesto.
