It was as though the gewog was already having its National Council elections yesterday.

At four polling stations in different villages under Tang gewog, more than 800 people showing up to vote and, with the two council aspirants appearing firm and confident, polling was as good as on.

However, upon completion of the gewog zomdu yesterday, it turned out to be a comfortable win for Nima, former lecturer, who had garnered enough votes from just one polling station to beat his opponent, Karma Wangchuk, who has a business background.

Both aspirants had managed to secure win from the polling stations in their own gewogs.

In Khangrab village, where Nima hailed from, he received 311 votes, while Karma managed just 82.  Results from Tang middle secondary school polling station, Karma Wangchuk’s native place, showed he secured 144 votes, while Nima managed just 38.

From Tandigang extended classroom, 96 votes were for Nima, while six was for Karma.  In Bezur, 114 voted for Nima, 43 for Karma.

The polling stations were set up to “ease trouble” for villagers, who need not travel all the way to the gewog centre.

Karma Wangchuk, 42, said it was a healthy competition, where people in the gewog had choices.

“It isn’t just about winning,” he said. “I’ll go back to continue my business.”

The gewog’s nominee, Nima, said, now that the people chose him for the final election, he felt a sense of pride to be entrusted with the confidence.

Council nominations: Voters at a polling station in Bumthang

He said he hoped for a “smooth” election process here on.

Many people said, since they haven’t dealt with the two aspirants at a personal level, they based their votes on their work experience.

It was evident most villagers in Tang preferred those, who served in government, to a “private person”.

Chophel, 36, said a businessman works for themselves, where as a civil servant works for people.

“That’s why I thought someone, who resigned from civil service, would do me more good,” he said.

Today, former councillor Tshewang Jurmi, who resigned to re-contest, will seek his nomination from Ura gewog.

By Sonam Choden 

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