Coinciding with the 67th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck on November 11, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) introduced its 11 candidates representing different constituencies for the fourth parliamentary election in 2023.
The party claimed that they are ready for the 2023 parliamentary election with candidates identified from all 47 constituencies.
Except for three candidates who are yet to resign from their present work commitments, the PDP is set to launch more candidates starting with lucky 11 numbers as a symbolic respect towards the great fourth as well as the constitution day.
Out of the 11 candidates, ten of them are new members replacing the party’s former candidates.
1.Kabji-Talo candidate, Punakha
PDP’s 37-year-old Namgyal Dorji will represent the Kabji-Talo constituency in Punakha.
Namgyal Dorji acquired a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Australian National University.
For 12 years, PDP’s Kabji-Talo candidate worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in New York. He has been serving in the Multilateral Department before joining PDP
2. Lingmu-Toewang candidate, Punakha
44-year-old, Namgay Wangchuk from Punakha will be contesting from the Lingmu-Toewang constituency, representing PDP.
Namgay Wangchuk holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. He acquired his master’s degree in 2018. He served as the president of the Association of Bhutanese in Perth.
The candidate is also a former Member of Parliament (MP)
3. Bji-Uesu candidate, Haa
Lhendup Wangdi from Haa dzongkhag will be contesting from the Bji-Uesu constituency.
The candidate holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Gedu College of Business Studies.
He served as an Assistant Lecturer at Gedu College of Business Studies (Royal University of Bhutan).
Before joining PDP, Lhendup Wangdi is a well-known businessman in Haa.
4.Dewathang-Gomdar candidate, Samdrup Jonkhar
Kelzang Phuntsho, a 40-year-old will be representing PDP from the Dewangthang-Gomdar constituency in Samdrup Jongkhar.
The candidate completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration.
He has 16 years of working experience in different departments and companies.
Before joining PDP, Kezang Phuntsho worked as Human Resources Officer (HRO), Administrative Officer, Data Center Manager, and Chief Operation Officer at Link Unify, a private company.
5.Dophuchen-Tading candidate, Samtse
Ugyen Lama, a 33-year-old candidate will represent the Dophuchen-Tading constituency in Samtse.
He completed a Bachelor’s Civil Engineering from the College of Science and Technology (CST).
He worked as a project engineer until 2018.
He also contested in the National Council election before.
6.Bongo-Chapcha Candidate, Chhukha
Pempa, 40-year-old will be representing the Bongo-Chapcha constituency under Chhukha Dzongkhag.
Pempa holds a Bachelor’s degree certificate from India and also a Diploma certificate in Office Management.
For a decade, Pempa served in Royal Bhutan Army (RBA).
He contested in the National Council election in 2018 and National Assembly consecutively.
7.Khatoed-Laya candidate, Gasa
Lhaba Lhaba, a 29-year-old will be contesting from the Khatoed-Laya constituency in Gasa.
The 29-year-old candidate holds a Bachelor’s degree certificate in Commerce from Gedu College of Business Studies.
He worked in Kuwait. And also served as a Procurement Officer at Jigme Singye Wangchuck Law School (JSWLS) in Paro.
Before joining politics, Lhaba Lhaba was running a restaurant in Thimphu.
8.Nanong-Shumar candidate, Pemagatshel
Pema Wangchuk, a 43-year-old candidate from Pemagatshel will contest from the Nanong-Shumar constituency.
The candidate holds a Master’s in Legal Studies. And a postgraduate diploma in Management from University in Canberra (Australia).
9.Lamgong-Wangchang candidate, Paro
Soman Tashi, 33-year-old will be contesting from Lamgong Wangchang constituency in Paro.
He completed a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the College of Science of Technology (CST).
Earlier, the candidate contested for the National Council from Paro Dzongkhag.
10. Khaling-Wamrong Candidate, Trashigang
Yeshey Nidup, a 48-year-old from Tashigang Dzongkhag will be contesting from the Khaling Wamrong constituency.
He holds a Master’s in Geological Engineering, Project Management, and Business Administration from different Universities.
He served as an assistant engineer in the Department of Road (DoR).
Before joining PDP, Yeshey Nidup served as a chief engineer in Phuensholing Thromde before joining PDP.
11. North Thimphu Candidate, Thimphu
Tshering, a 39-year-old candidate will be representing PDP from North Thimphu.
He holds Bachelor’s degree certificate in Science in Visual Communication from Madras University in Chennai, India.
He acquired working experience in various fields such as media, construction, real estate, and legislation.
He also won the North Thimphu constituency by-election in 2016.
PDP’s new slogan: “FOR A BETTER DRUK-YUL” promises that the political party will deliver the slogan of the 2023 election.
“The PDP will work to make the country better,” stated the party president at the candidate launching ceremony.
The party president, Dasho Tshering Tobagy reminded us that Bhutan is a small country peached in between very giant and powerful countries India and China.
“Therefore, it is the responsibility of Bhutanese to protect the security, peace, unity, harmony, and sovereignty of our nation” added the party president.
Further, he requested all the 11 candidates of the party to dedicate their life, to working tirelessly in providing the best services to the Tsa-Wa-Sum rather than aiming for Scarf, rank, salary, and power.
Dasho Tshering Tobgay said, “PDP promises to participate in democracy and protect democracy.”
The party president also reminded us that ‘Democracy’ is a special gift given by the Fourth Druk Gyalpo to the people, knowing it’s significant in the future. Thus, the Bhutanese must protect our democracy.
Furthermore, the party president focused on achieving the philosophical goal of His Majesty the great fourth. He said, “Everyone should work to fulfill “Gross National Happiness (GNH)” that originated from the great monarch.”
The party claimed that they are ready for the 2023 parliamentary election with candidates identified from all 47 constituencies.
Except for three candidates who are yet to resign from their present work commitments, the PDP is set to launch more candidates starting with lucky 11 numbers as a symbolic respect towards the great fourth as well as the constitution day.
Out of the 11 candidates, ten of them are new members replacing the party’s former candidates.
1.Kabji-Talo candidate, Punakha
PDP’s 37-year-old Namgyal Dorji will represent the Kabji-Talo constituency in Punakha.
Namgyal Dorji acquired a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Australian National University.
For 12 years, PDP’s Kabji-Talo candidate worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in New York. He has been serving in the Multilateral Department before joining PDP
2. Lingmu-Toewang candidate, Punakha
44-year-old, Namgay Wangchuk from Punakha will be contesting from the Lingmu-Toewang constituency, representing PDP.
Namgay Wangchuk holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. He acquired his master’s degree in 2018. He served as the president of the Association of Bhutanese in Perth.
The candidate is also a former Member of Parliament (MP)
3. Bji-Uesu candidate, Haa
Lhendup Wangdi from Haa dzongkhag will be contesting from the Bji-Uesu constituency.
The candidate holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Gedu College of Business Studies.
He served as an Assistant Lecturer at Gedu College of Business Studies (Royal University of Bhutan).
Before joining PDP, Lhendup Wangdi is a well-known businessman in Haa.
4.Dewathang-Gomdar candidate, Samdrup Jonkhar
Kelzang Phuntsho, a 40-year-old will be representing PDP from the Dewangthang-Gomdar constituency in Samdrup Jongkhar.
The candidate completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration.
He has 16 years of working experience in different departments and companies.
Before joining PDP, Kezang Phuntsho worked as Human Resources Officer (HRO), Administrative Officer, Data Center Manager, and Chief Operation Officer at Link Unify, a private company.
5.Dophuchen-Tading candidate, Samtse
Ugyen Lama, a 33-year-old candidate will represent the Dophuchen-Tading constituency in Samtse.
He completed a Bachelor’s Civil Engineering from the College of Science and Technology (CST).
He worked as a project engineer until 2018.
He also contested in the National Council election before.
6.Bongo-Chapcha Candidate, Chhukha
Pempa, 40-year-old will be representing the Bongo-Chapcha constituency under Chhukha Dzongkhag.
Pempa holds a Bachelor’s degree certificate from India and also a Diploma certificate in Office Management.
For a decade, Pempa served in Royal Bhutan Army (RBA).
He contested in the National Council election in 2018 and National Assembly consecutively.
7.Khatoed-Laya candidate, Gasa
Lhaba Lhaba, a 29-year-old will be contesting from the Khatoed-Laya constituency in Gasa.
The 29-year-old candidate holds a Bachelor’s degree certificate in Commerce from Gedu College of Business Studies.
He worked in Kuwait. And also served as a Procurement Officer at Jigme Singye Wangchuck Law School (JSWLS) in Paro.
Before joining politics, Lhaba Lhaba was running a restaurant in Thimphu.
8.Nanong-Shumar candidate, Pemagatshel
Pema Wangchuk, a 43-year-old candidate from Pemagatshel will contest from the Nanong-Shumar constituency.
The candidate holds a Master’s in Legal Studies. And a postgraduate diploma in Management from University in Canberra (Australia).
9.Lamgong-Wangchang candidate, Paro
Soman Tashi, 33-year-old will be contesting from Lamgong Wangchang constituency in Paro.
He completed a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the College of Science of Technology (CST).
Earlier, the candidate contested for the National Council from Paro Dzongkhag.
10. Khaling-Wamrong Candidate, Trashigang
Yeshey Nidup, a 48-year-old from Tashigang Dzongkhag will be contesting from the Khaling Wamrong constituency.
He holds a Master’s in Geological Engineering, Project Management, and Business Administration from different Universities.
He served as an assistant engineer in the Department of Road (DoR).
Before joining PDP, Yeshey Nidup served as a chief engineer in Phuensholing Thromde before joining PDP.
11. North Thimphu Candidate, Thimphu
Tshering, a 39-year-old candidate will be representing PDP from North Thimphu.
He holds Bachelor’s degree certificate in Science in Visual Communication from Madras University in Chennai, India.
He acquired working experience in various fields such as media, construction, real estate, and legislation.
He also won the North Thimphu constituency by-election in 2016.
PDP’s new slogan: “FOR A BETTER DRUK-YUL” promises that the political party will deliver the slogan of the 2023 election.
“The PDP will work to make the country better,” stated the party president at the candidate launching ceremony.
The party president, Dasho Tshering Tobagy reminded us that Bhutan is a small country peached in between very giant and powerful countries India and China.
“Therefore, it is the responsibility of Bhutanese to protect the security, peace, unity, harmony, and sovereignty of our nation” added the party president.
Further, he requested all the 11 candidates of the party to dedicate their life, to working tirelessly in providing the best services to the Tsa-Wa-Sum rather than aiming for Scarf, rank, salary, and power.
Dasho Tshering Tobgay said, “PDP promises to participate in democracy and protect democracy.”
The party president also reminded us that ‘Democracy’ is a special gift given by the Fourth Druk Gyalpo to the people, knowing it’s significant in the future. Thus, the Bhutanese must protect our democracy.
Furthermore, the party president focused on achieving the philosophical goal of His Majesty the great fourth. He said, “Everyone should work to fulfill “Gross National Happiness (GNH)” that originated from the great monarch.”
