The National Assembly of Bhutan declared seats of Monggar and Nganglam Constituencies vacant as per Section 20 of the National Assembly Act, today. This was following the Home Minister’s resignation today and the Nganglam’s Member of Parliament’s demise last month. The Speaker has issued a writ to the Election Commission of Bhutan to fill both the vacant seats.
Meanwhile, rumours are rife that Karma Lhamo, a former Member of Parliament of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), and the party’s candidate for the last three parliamentary elections, will now be contesting as the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa’s candidate from Monggar. However, she said there is no official offer being made as of now.
She has deregistered from the DPT in 2019.
According to the DNT’s party office, the party will finalise the candidates officially within a week or two for the Monggar and Nganglam constituencies.
Meanwhile, the DPT is yet to identify the candidates for the constituencies. The party officials said they are working on it.
According to the Election Act, A bye-election for filling any vacancy to Parliament shall be held within a period of 90 days from the date of the occurrence of the vacancy. And as per section 18 of the National Assembly Act, upon acceptance of the resignation by the Speaker, the seat of that member shall become vacant.
Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen formally stepped down from his ministerial post and as a Member of Parliament. The Prime Minister and the Speaker of the National Assembly accepted the resignation letter earlier today. Dasho submitted the resignation letter to the Prime Minister last month and the Speaker recently.
He was elected from the Monggar constituency in 2018.
Dasho was convicted by the erstwhile Larger Bench of the High Court of a false vehicle insurance claim worth over Nu 200,000. According to the judgment, Dasho has claimed the vehicle insurance for his Toyota Prado in 2016 from RICBL stating his vehicle met with an accident at Lamperi. The case is now with the Supreme Court.
Tshering Zam
