Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa’s (DNT) victory in Wangdue could be attributed to postal ballot votes the party got from two constituencies — Nyisho-Saephu and Athang-Thedtsho.
Although People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and DNT were equally popular in Nyisho-Saephu, postal ballot votes led DNT to victory.
DNT’s lead with about 350 postal ballot votes was further widened with the electronic voting machine (EVM) votes from the constituency. While PDP secured 2,027 votes from EVM, DNT got 2,163 votes.
With 3,033 votes, DNT secured at least 39 percent of the total votes from the constituency. Wangchuk Namgyel is DNT’s Nyisho-Saephu candidate. PDP’s was Kuenga.
Nyisho-Saephu was one of the constituencies where PDP did well in 2013 primany round. This year the voters went for DNT.
DNT’s Nyisho-Saephu candidate, Wangchuk Namgyel, said that DNT’s win could be because of the party’s manifesto – narrowing the gap and its priority on health. He also attributed his win to his hard work and commitment.
“I think that the people were looking for a change and DNT offered a good choice,” Wangchuk Namgyel said.
Although Nyisho-Saephu constituency went for a change, the people of Athang-Thedtsho chose PDP again.
DNT’s postal ballot votes in Athang-Thedtsho, which were the highest among the four parties led to DNT winning the second highest votes in the constituency. DNT had the second least EVM votes from the constituency among the parties.
PDP won from the constituency with about 200 votes more than DNT.
PDP’s Athang-Thedtsho candidate was the former health minister Tandin Wangchuk.
PDP and DNT secured 2,336 and 2,131 votes from the constituency respectively.
In the constituency, 7,058 people cast their votes through EVM and postal ballots.
Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party’s vice president, Sonam Tobgay, from Athang-Thedtsho, got only about 11 percent of the total votes. The party got the least number of votes –778 – from the constituency.
Wangdue has 20,084 registered voters, of which 14,764 came to cast their votes on September 15.
About 35 percent of people who cast their votes voted for DNT.
Phurpa Lhamo