Barp gewog in Punakha nominated their National Council candidate, Kinley Wangchuk with 204 yes votes against 23 no votes yesterday.

The former teacher and principal, Kinley Wangchuk has a Master’s in public administration. He also has a diploma in leadership and management. He is from Yewokha village and the lone aspirant from the gewog.

In Barp gewog, 227 voters turned up to cast their votes at the gewog hall yesterday.

The first voter Dema, 66, said that she and her family had come to select their candidate at the dhamngoi zomdu. “I would like to choose someone who would benefit our country.”

Barp gewog has 1,334 voters of which only 227 turned up today. Of the total voter, 100 were male.

Although many turned up with their voter’s card yesterday, the election officials provided 38 of them with new voter cards. Equipment was set up at the Barp gewog hall for immediate issuance of the voter’s card.

Phub Zam, 31, said that if it wasn’t for such services, one must visit the dzongkhag administration for a new card. “I lost my card after officials had visited the gewogs for registration.”

A Class 12 graduate, Kinley Om, 20, is another recipient of this service.

She said that although it is her first time voting in the NC elections, she have had experience in schools and understands the process of voting. “I wasn’t in my village when officials visited the gewogs. We only need our identity card to get a voter’s card.”

The election officials also made a magnifying glass available for those with poor eyesight. Few voters made use of the glass.

Meanwhile, the dhamngoi zomdu for Lingbukha gewog was also conducted yesterday. However, the gewog had no aspirant.

With completion of dhamngoi zomdu in two gewogs yesterday, nine gewogs in Punakha are yet to conduct zomdus.

Phurpa Lhamo | Punakha