The second round of local government elections yesterday was a low key affair. It was as smooth and trouble free as it was uneventful.
The day was bright and sunny. At the polling stations, the election officials on duty waited expectantly as the voters started to trickle in.
As the wintry sun rose slowly high up in the sky, a handful of voters turned out leisurely to exercise their franchise. There was no rush unlike the previous elections. There were no never-ending lines of eager voters.
The voter turnout did not see a huge improvement even as the sun dipped lazily behind the serrated mountain top.
There were 96,716 registered voters in 371 constituencies. Of that only 25,716 came out in person to cast their votes. 61 voted by postal ballot. The voter turnout was 27 percent.
They elected 303 local leaders; two Gups, one Mangmi, three Dzongkhag Thromde Thuemi, one Dzongkhag Thromde Tshogpa, and 296 geog tshogpas.
The election for Tshogpa in Sho-kang Tagtagpa constituency in Yangnyer Geog in Tashigang ended in a tie.
With the second round of local government elections yesterday, there are now 101 women local leaders including one Gup, 12 Mangmis.
422 candidates contested the elections.
62 posts for Geog Tshogpa and five Thromde Thuemi still remain vacant, mainly for want of candidates.
The election yesterday cost an estimated Nu.50.450 million.
