The candidates for the Chhoekhor_Tang bye-election are relying on various factors to win the race for the National Assembly seat. Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa’s (DNT) Dawa says the ruling party’s candidate has the upper hand while Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s Tenzin Norbu is counting on the faith and confidence of the voters on his party, which has never lost in Chhoekhor_Tang so far.
With the poll day fast approaching, there are several factors that could swing the votes either way. It is a race between the ruling government’s candidate versus the candidate whose party has traditionally been favoured by the voters in Chhoekhor_Tang. Dawa is from Tang while Tenzin Norbu is from Chhoekhor. Tang has 1,910 eligible voters while Chhoekhor and Bumthang Throm have 4,309 voters, combined. However, DNT has launched new pledges for the campaign to garner support while DPT is clearly tight-lipped when it comes to pledges.
This is what the candidates are saying about all these underlying dynamics.
“Parties and communal sentiments shouldn’t determine the outcome of this election. People clearly know who’s the more capable candidate but that shouldn’t be the overriding factor. The election should hinge on who’s the ruling party and who’s the opposition which people are very clear about. So far DPT had been the ruling party for five years and the opposition for seven years in this constituency. So, people know which DPT benefited them more and I think the disparity between the opposition and the government party would be who people decide to vote for,” said Dawa, the DNT’s Candidate for Chhoekhor_Tang constituency in Bumthang.
“Chhoekhor_Tang has been a DPT-favouring constituency so far and moreover the people here are loyal and devoted DPT supporters because DPT delivered more than 90 per cent of the pledges we made while we were the ruling party in 2008. That’s why we are relying on the continued support and trust of the people,” refuted Tenzin Norbu, the DPT’s Candidate for Chhoekhor_Tang constituency in Bumthang.
People have a lot to decide on and some are still undecided.
“I think the pledges could make a difference and some people might stick to candidates from their gewog,” said Dorjila, from Lamaigoenpa in Bumthang.
“I think people will decide based on what pledges the parties have on offer as we expect the elected candidate to fulfil them, so it won’t be Chhoekhor versus Tang sort of election,” shared Karma Phuntsho, also from Lamaigoenpa.
“I hope the voters will take time to attend all the campaign meetings and try to learn about the capabilities of the candidates before the poll day and vote for the right candidate,” said Tsheten Dorji, from Bumthang Throm.
“DPT had lots of supporters in Bumthang as the former Opposition Leader was a popular figure here. However, voters are now confused as DPT’s contending candidate is from the ruling party,” shared Namgay, also from Bumthang Throm.
In the 2018 General Election, about 68 per cent of the constituency’s 4,787 voters voted for DPT’s Pema Jamtsho (PhD) who also won the seat for two consecutive terms earlier. Will this change? The poll day is on November 19.
Kipchu
