The filing of nominations of candidates by the Bhutan Tendrel Party and People’s Democratic Party for the general round of the fourth National Assembly elections concluded today. The Bhutan Tendrel Party will be replacing their candidate for the Sombaykha Constituency in Haa as the Election Commission of Bhutan disqualified their previous candidate. BBS contacted the ECB but the commission officials did not share any information on why the candidate was disqualified. Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party has confirmed that the party will not switch any candidates.
The Election Commission of Bhutan disqualified the Bhutan Tendrel Party’s candidate for the Sombaykha constituency in Haa on Thursday.
According to the Bhutan Tendrel Party, the ECB denied the candidature based on section 179 of the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2008. Subsection C of the act specifies that “A person shall be disqualified as a candidate or a member holding an elective office under the Constitution if he/she has been dismissed or removed from public service or the corporate sector.”
The candidate was a lawyer before joining the party. The Bar Council cancelled his Jabmi certificate in March this year restricting him from practicing or providing any legal services.
According to the ECB, the Returning Officers were not mandated to carry out scrutiny of the nomination of candidates during the primary round.
“We were shocked when the ECB issued the denial of our Sombaykha candidate on 7th December. Immediately, as per the Election Act, we understood that we had to find a replacement for him from the three other parties who could not make it to the general round. Accordingly, we have talked with the three parties. However, the candidates of the two parties were not willing. However, the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s candidate, Sonam Penjore, willingly agreed to join the party because of his interest in pursuing a political career and his interest in the party’s aspirations,” said Tshering Nidup, General Secretary of Bhutan Tendrel Party.
As of now, in addition to submitting nominations of candidates in the forty-seven constituencies, the BTP is awaiting approval of their replaced candidate from the ECB.
Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party has decided to maintain the previously announced candidates without any switch.
“As today is the last date to file nominations of candidates by the two parties, the People’s Democratic Party has submitted all the documents of the candidates to the Election Commission. PDP will not change its candidates, and there hasn’t been any situation that required us to change our candidates. Therefore, all the forty-seven candidates that were declared before will be participating,” said Kuenga Tashi, Secretary General of People’s Democratic Party.
The Returning Officers will begin scrutiny of nominations of candidates tomorrow.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is on Tuesday. The election campaign period will also begin on the same day.
Further, the election campaign funds for the political parties are to be released the next day that is on Wednesday.
According to the State Finance and Election Returns report on the Election Campaign, the ECB spent close to Nu 260,000 on each candidate during the general round of the 2018 NA elections.
The common forum will commence on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Presidential Debate will be held on Tuesday and public debate for the candidates will commence on 18th December.
The election campaign period for the general round will end on 7th January and 8th January will be the last day for receiving postal ballots.
Similar to the primary round of the fourth NA Elections, the ECB will carry out special early voting for people with disabilities from the 2nd to the 4th of January for the general round.
Meanwhile, the Poll Day for the General round will be held on 9th January. And the results will be declared the next day.
The election petition period begins on the 10th of January and ends on the 24th of January.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Phub Gyem
