Politics: In a bid to reach out to the youth and the media, the Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party (BKP), yesterday appointed Kunga Tenzin Dorji as their director of Youth and Media Affairs of the party.

During a simple ceremony at the party’s office in Motithang, Kunga Tenzin Dorji  clarified that he is not a candidate. “I am here because BKP sees a genuine need for direction in these two fields,” he said.

“More than half of the population are under the age of 25 and there is a need to know what’s the pulse of the youth. There is an obvious disconnect,” he said. “I understand a lot of youth look up to me, so I have that ready access to talk directly to them and know the issues about them.”

Kunga Tenzin Dorji is a radio show host on Radio Valley 99.9FM. He has been in the industry as a print and broadcast journalist for 22 years, according to a BKP press release. “Becoming a representative for BKP does not stop my journalistic works, it will go on,” he said. “People can question but my work will obviously speak. I don’t think there should be shadow cast over my journalistic work.”

BKP President Sonam Tobgay said the party firmly believes that these fields require new vision and policy initiatives and government support towards addressing concerns of the youth. “We are looking for his contribution, skill, knowledge competency and values.

Besides being a journalist, Kunga Tenzin Dorji is also an actor, musician, and participates in social work and youth-related projects, according to the BKP press release. He is a recipient of he 2015 Radio Personality Award and the 2016 Jigme Singye Wangchuck Prestigious Journalism Award.

Tashi Tenzin