KuenselOnline Bhutan's Daily Newspaper

In the final hearing, the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) yesterday rebutted Chheku Dukpa’s appeal against the commission’s decision to deny registration to Druk Gaki Tshogpa at the High Court. The commission’s senior legal officer Sonam Dorjee said the commission’s decision was based on the country’s electoral laws. While acknowledging …

The poll-day on April 20 saw Haa choose Ugyen Namgay as the dzongkhag’s representative in the House of Review. It is believed that incumbent Tshering Dorji lost because of the division of votes. As Bji has the highest number of voter base of over 1,400 registered voters, the incumbent got …

Laya gewog, where the highest number of voters is concentrated in Gasa swung the outcome of the National Council election in favour of council elect, Dorji Khandu on April 20.  Despite securing the least number of votes, 15, from postal ballots and winning the minimum EVM votes from three gewogs …

Records show voters preferred their own candidates From the details of the council elections on Friday, the five candidates have impressed their voters in the gewogs they represent. Each of them had won with good margin from their gewogs leaving it to the postal ballot to decide. Council-elect Tshewang Rinzin …

Paro’s councilor-elect Ugyen Tshering said he knew he would win. The 49-year-old entrepreneur from Goongju, Lamgong, said it was his third time contesting for a seat in the House of Review.  “People told me that they would support me and I was confident,” said Ugyen Tshering. Voters said capability and …

Won highest votes in three gewogs  What led to the defeat of the seven incumbents is hard to tell, but in Lhuentse, it is the incumbency that mattered and resulted in Tempa Dorji getting elected for a second term. The NC elect attributes his simplicity, honesty and humility as the …

With candidates from 10 gewogs contesting from Dagana, the four gewogs without a candidate were expected to decide who would represent the Dagaps (people of Dagana). When the results were declared, it was confirmed that the swing gewogs, Tsangkha, Tashiding and Gozhi played a huge role in electing Surjaman Thapa. …

Namesake beats incumbent for a seat in the council In the second National Council (NC) election in 2013, the NC-elect Tashi Phuntsho’s only contestant, Karma Gyeltshen gave him stiff competition. With only two candidates then, Karma Gyeltshen was leading in the postal ballot count, which made Tashi Phuntsho jittery. However, …

The April 20 National Council (NC) elections in Trashigang saw former Druk Phuensum Tshogpa candidate, Lhatu, return as Trashigang’s councillor. From Lumang gewog, Lhatu, 51, said the result was as he had expected. He said he had expected postal ballots to be in his favour. He had 762 ballots more …

Her strategy to reach gewogs that didn’t have candidates and her popularity as an actor helped Lhaki Dolma win the National Council seat from Punakha. Punakha had eight NC candidates, of which two were women.  Lhaki Dolma secured the maximum number of votes from her gewog, Dzomi, which saw over …

With 2,406 votes, Mongar elected the lone woman candidate, Sonam Pelzom as their National Council elect yesterday. She secured 1,012 postal ballots and 1,394 EVM votes to beat 12 male candidates including the incumbent member.  Soon after the provisional results were announced, Sonam Pelzom who was at home was bombarded …

Incumbent loses by a huge margin The mood was relaxed at the office of the returning officer in Semtokha when counting started with the postal ballots. The first few envelopes had Tshewang Rinzin’s name. When it continued, the other contestants hid their concern with a joke. “Please share some with …