Bumthaps have been with the cranes in every National Assembly elections.

Of the two constituencies, Chhoekhor-Tang has been the stronghold of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) ever since the first election in 2008. This had further strengthened in 2018 primary as the DPT president hails from Tang.

Prior to the polls, speculations were rife that votes would get divided in Tang as all the four candidates were from Tang Gewog.

DPT, however, acquired a landslide victory in Chhoekhor-Tang with 2,540 votes.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was represented by a businessman. He contested for PDP in the past elections too. This translated into 1,048 votes in for PDP in Chheokhor_Tang, second highest.

The candidates of Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party (BKP) secured 237 votes and Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) got 921 votes.

A breakdown of both EVM and postal ballots reveal that DPT dominated by huge margin. DPT secured 775 postal ballots, followed by DNT with 348, PDP with 201, and BKP with only 87.

DPT also led in EVM votes by 1,765 against 847 for PDP, 573 for DNT, and 150 for BKP.

Chhoekhor-Tang has 6,051 eligible voters, of which 4,746 votes were cast, resulting in a turnout of 78.5 percent.

Chhumig-Ura seat was occupied by DPT from 2008 until 2013. In 2013, PDP took the seat and the DPT managed to get it back with the help of postal ballots.

PDP fielded a former dzongdag who secured highest EVM votes of 660. DPT roped its old candidate, who represented the constituency in the Assembly in the first Parliament. He managed to secure 612 EVM votes, followed 434 for DNT, and 162 for BKP.

The postal ballot upended the result as DPT secured 356 ballots against 234 for PDP. DNT secured 265 postal ballots and BKP got 73.

Chhumig-Ura has 3,785 eligible voters of which 2,796 voted. The turnout comes to around 73 percent.

Tshering Dorji | Bumthang