DPT's Kesang Wangdi, 34, is from Chemkhar village in Toetsho gewog. He graduated from Sherubtse College, Kanglung with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in 1997. After completing his Master's degree in Financial Management, he served with the Royal Audit Authority for more than nine years as senior audit officer. He is married and has a daughter.

1. Your favourite proverb?

Honesty is the best policy.

2. Why should people vote for you?

People trust me and my party.

3. "Vote for the man who promises the least, he will be the least disappointing. Comment.

One should not go by the number of promises but every promise should be made within the means; practical and achievable promises should not be for the sake of getting votes.

4. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Experienced politician or a social worker.

5. Why did you join politics?

To serve our country, king and the people.

6. Are you into politics for the long haul or is it just a one-time attempt?

I am into politics for the long haul. I believe in long term goals and not instant gratification and my party too believes in continuity and the future.

7. What are your chances of winning?

Very good.

8. Are voters educated enough to make the right choice?

I doubt.

9. What are your priorities for the people of Yangtse?

Socio-economic development, road networks, electricity, improvement of agriculture sector and marketting of agricultural products.

10. What do you think of your opponent?

Worthy and I wish him well.

11. What is the biggest problem facing Bhutan today?

To understand democracy.

12. Should Bhutan join the WTO?

Yes, Bhutan should.

13. What was the last book you read?

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche.

14. Should Bhutan History be taught in Dzongkha?

Yes, it should be.

15. What is the role of media in democracy?

Media has a very important role to provide information of public concern to make informed and right decision.

16. Do you think it is possible for the election commission to check campaign spending?

Yes, if the commission really desires to.

17. What is your opening line when you meet voters in your constituency?

"Pelden Drukpa Lha Gaylo and let people of Bhutan win ..."

PDP's Sonam Dondup Dorjee, 34, is from Omba village in Toetsho gewog, Trashi Yangtse. He has a double degree in Finance, Insurance and Entrepreneurship from Northeastern University, Boston, USA. He worked as a financial analyst and financial projects specialist with MNCs in the US, including the Gillette Co. and LWCO. He then established a tour company, the Nirvana Expeditions. He is married.

1. Your favourite proverb?

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

2. Why should people vote for you?

A successful democracy demands a party and person representing a constituency to be dedicated selflessly to efficiently deliver services as per the priorities of the people. Having been successful in the competitive business, world where lack of efficiency and delivery of results spell failure, I represent the right choice for the need of time. In addition, our party's goals and ideals, and history of efficient delivery of our leader leave no room for complacency or failure.

3. "Vote for the man who promises the least, he will be the least disappointing." Comment.

Politicians should take cue from Bernard Baruch's assertion and make realistic promises. PDP has in its mandate promised, in consultation with the people, what can be done, what needs to be done and once promised, to deliver.

4. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Stronger, seasoned and a more efficient servant of the king, country and people in a greatly advanced, prosperous and happier nation, and an ever proud member of PDP.

5. Why did you join politics?

One must dedicate at least some portion of ones life to the greater purpose of serving our community and country. So I joined to serve my country and to help my constituency rise competitively at par and beyond others.

6. Are you into politics for the long haul or is it just a one-time attempt?

As a conscious decision to be a servant of my people, I have dreams and visions of serving them for the rest of my productive life.

7. What are your chances of winning?

I am by nature a confident person and accordingly competitive and hardworking. Most importantly, I am confident that my community will make the right choice.

8. Are voters educated enough to make the right choice?

Most of the voters are, credit due to ECB but, given the infancy of our democracy, there are some still confused or misled. I have done my share of clarification, mostly to do with disguised coercion and false promises tied to votes and membership.

9. What are your priorities for the people of Trashi Yangtse?

Improved farm productivity, market accessibility, developing cottage industries, and sensible utilization of natural advantage for tourism and hydropower, to achieve goal of poverty alleviation and to curb rural-urban migration.

10. What do you think of your opponent?

I have professional respect for the "other choice" of the people.

11. What is the biggest problem facing Bhutan today?

Incidence of poverty, disparity, economic displacement and unemployment, which are interconnected.

12. Should Bhutan join the WTO?

Yes, we cannot as a nation stand aside and watch the world march by but, in the best examples of past policies, on our own terms.

13. What was the last book you read?

"The J Curve - A new way to understand why nations rise and fall" by Ian Bremmer.

14. Should Bhutan History be taught in Dzongkha?

Yes, a sovereign nation must have nationalized academia, but guided by gradual research and experimentation.

15. What is the role of media in democracy?

As the alarm and guide, ears and eyes for the public, they have moral and professional responsibility to act as watchdog. I have great admiration in the growing maturity and professionalism shown by our media.

16. Do you think it is possible for the election commission to check campaign spending?

My faith in our law-abiding people and the ability of ECB leads me to believe that it is possible, and they must, since precedence must be set right from now.

17. What is your opening line when you meet voters in your constituency?

"Kuzu Zangpo! His Majesty has bestowed on all of us a special gift, the right to vote, which we must exercise with great care ..."