About 35.6 percent of the people in Punakha voted for Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) in the primary round.

Punakha saw a total of 11,977 people turning up to cast their votes in the two constituencies – Lingmukha-Toedwang and Kabisa-Talo. Of the total voters, 4,269 people voted for DNT.

From Lingmukha-Toedwang constituency, DNT’s candidate and one of the founding members of the party, Tandi Dorji, said people knew him as he had contested in the elections since 2008. “They know that I have worked hard and one of the founding members of DNT.”

Tandin Dorji also attributed the win to the party’s pledges, which he said was well received by the people. “Our president is known to everyone as a humble person, who can fulfill our health pledge. And my constituency also realised that they needed a change.”

In Lingmukha-Toedwang constituency, 5,123 people came to cast their votes on September 15. With 1,985 votes from the constituency, DNT received about 38.7 percent of the votes. DNT was also on led with the postal ballot votes.

The people of Kabisa-Talo constituency however, chose the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The constituency has 10,015 registered voters. Of the total, 6,854 people cast their votes at the constituency. Although DNT was leading in the postal ballot votes, PDP took over DNT when the EVM votes were counted.

With 2,738 votes, PDP secured 39.9 percent of the votes and DNT secured about 33.3 percent of the votes.

Phurpa Lhamo | Punakha