The Election Commission of Bhutan has asked People’s Democractic Party’s former candidate of Gangzur-Minjay Constituency, Sonam Jatsho, to stop campaigning, immediately and unconditionally. Sonam Jatsho is said to be campaigning even though he is not the candidate-designate of the party for the constituency. The Party has Lobzang Dorji, 25, as their candidate-designate.
In a letter to the People’s Democratic Party President, ECB says, Sonam Jatsho has printed pamphlets and distributed, without the approval of ECB, to the people of Gangzur-Minjey demkhong. ECB says this is the violation of the Election Advertisement Regulation of kingdom of Bhutan.
The ECB has also asked the President to justify why ECB should not take legal action against the party within 5 pm today.
The supporters of DNT and DCT had put up a complaint letter against Sonam Jatsho for campaigning as candidate-designate of PDP, even though his name does not reflect in the list of candidates PDP had submitted to the ECB. They has said he is also not a registered member of PDP.
Sonam Jatsho, on the other hand, says BBS has misquoted him. He had told BBS’s Lhuentse Reporter, Sonam Ugyen, earlier that he is campaigning because he will be representing the party if PDP makes through to the general round.
PDP’s media spokesperson, Damchoe Dorji, said the allegations against Sonam Jatsho are baseless. He also said the pamphlets were approved by ECB. Damchoe Dorji also said Sonam Jatsho is a registered member of PDP but his name somehow got left out when the party submitted its letter of intent.
