The Election Commission is facilitating common forums for the candidates and voters at the chiwog level. This is to let the candidates deliver their manifestos and the voters know their candidates. While everyone agrees that the platform is important, the poor turnout at some of the forums in Lhuentse indicates otherwise. The common forum for the third LG in Lhuentse ended yesterday.
Some voters believe that the common forum is important since it helps them decide whom to vote for on the poll day.
“I came because we were asked to attend. It will be like a disservice to the nation if we don’t come even after we are asked,” said Norbu Dorji, from Dungkar in Kurtoed Gewog of Lhuentse.
However, not everyone thinks the same. During the common forum at Tabi in Kurtoed Gewog yesterday, only thirteen from over 200 registered voters turned up. Similarly, from 600 registered voters in Nyabi in Menbi Gewog, only 55 attended the common forum.
According to a Returning Officer in Lhuentse, most of the registered voters don’t live in the village. He said this is the reason for the poor turnout in some of the chiwogs.
“Most of the registered voters live in Thimphu. Some are in the armed force and some are in civil service. And since these voters will mostly cast their votes through postal ballot and facilitation booths, there are not many voters here,” said Nima Tshering the Returning Officer for Gangzur-Minjay in Lhuentse.
The common forum in Lhuentse started on the 29th of last month. Including two thromde Ngotshab candidates, Lhuentse’s eight gewogs have 134 candidates vying for the local government seats this time.
Dorji Gyeltshen, Lhuentse
Edited by Sonam
