2007–2008 Bhutanese National Council election

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National Council elections were held in Bhutan for the first time on 31 December 2007,[1] having been originally scheduled for 26 December.[2] The new National Council had 25 members, which 20 members were directly elected from 20 dzongkhags by 312,817 eligible voters,[3] and five more were appointed by the Druk Gyalpo. Nominations had to be filed by 27 November 2007, and the campaigning for 15 of the 20 dzongkhags took place from 30 November until 31 December 2007.[4]

The elections were not held in five dzongkhags (Thimphu, Trashiyangtse, Gasa, Haa and Lhuntse) on 31 December 2007 since they either did not have any candidate or had only a single candidate till the last date for filing the nominations and the election rules state that there should be at least two candidates for each dzongkhag, otherwise the election would be postponed for that particular dzongkhag.[5] The elections in these five dzongkhags were held on 29 January 2008.[6]

## Election procedure

[edit]

In contrast to the National Assembly's 47 party-based members, the National Council members were elected on a non-party basis and were meant to be eminent people from civil society. The two conditions laid down for the candidature for the National Council of Bhutan were non-affiliation to any political party and the minimum qualification of graduation from a university. The candidates for a particular dzongkhag were selected through the zomdus (meetings) convened in each gewog of that dzongkhag specifically for this purpose.[7]

## Candidates

[edit]

A total of 43 candidates contested in 15 dzongkhags in the elections were held on 31 December 2007.[8][9] The highest number of candidates were in Samtse, Dagana, Mongar and Paro with four candidates each. Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang, Trongsa, Punakha and Trashigang had three candidates each. Chukha, Pemagatsel, Tsirang, Bumthang, Wangduephodrang and Zhemgang had two candidates each.[5]

A total of 48 candidates filed their nominations for this election by 27 November 2007:[5]

Dzongkhag | Gewog | Candidate

|
|

Bumthang | Chhoekhor | Jigme Palden
Bumthang | Ura | Tshewang Jurmin
Chukha | Bongo | Sonam Dorji Wangchuk
Chukha | Bjachho | Tshewang Lhamo
Chukha | Chapcha | Thinley Dorji
Dagana | Kana | Sonam Dorji
Dagana | Drujeygang | Kesang Dema
Dagana | Tshendeygang | Mongal Singh Gurung
Dagana | Lhamoyzingkha | Krishna Bahadur Tamang
Gasa |  | None
Haa | Bji | Tshering Dorji
Lhuntse | Khoma | Rinzin Dorji
Mongar | Silambi | Choki Drakpa
Mongar | Saling | Naichu
Mongar | Chali | Pema Tenzin
Mongar | Chaskhar | Pema Wangdi
Paro | Dopshari | Ugyen Tshering
Paro | Lango | Ugyen Tshering
Paro | Wangchang | Phub Dorji
Paro | Lungnyi | Jambay
Pema Gatshel | Dechenling | Sangay Tempa
Pema Gatshel | Shumar | Jigme Rinzin
Punakha | Goen Shari | Namgay Penjore
Punakha | Kabjisa | Sangay Phurba
Punakha | Talo | Namgay Ratty Dorji
Samdrup Jongkhar | Orong | Kuenga Dorji
Samdrup Jongkhar | Deothang | Sangay Lhendup
Samdrup Jongkhar | Lauri | Jigme Wangchuk
Samtse | Dorokha | Chhatrapati Phuyel
Samtse | Chargaray | Mani Kumar Rai
Samtse | Bara | Lal Bahadur Gurung
Samtse | Tendu | Bishnu Lal Gurung
Sarpang | Gelephu | Karma Donnen Wangdi
Sarpang | Shompangkha | Jamyang Sherub Wangdi
Sarpang | Dekiling | Dhan Bahadur Mongar
Thimphu | Thim Throm | Sangay Zam
Trashigang[10] | Shongphu | Sonam Kinga[10]
Trashigang | Bidung | Tashi Tshering
Trashigang | Samkhar | Ngawang Jamtsho
Trashiyangtse | Yalang | Kezang Namgyal
Trongsa | Nubi | Namgay Wangchuk
Trongsa | Tangsibji | Jagar Dorji
Trongsa | Korphu | Chimi Dorji
Tsirang | Kikorthang | Pema Dukpa
Tsirang | Phuentenchhu | Justin Gurung
Wangduephodrang | Nyisho | Sonam Yangchen
Wangduephodrang | Phangyul | Kaka Dawa
Zhemgang | Trong | Pema Dhendup
Zhemgang | Nangkor | Pema Lhamo

The candidature of Thinley Dorji from Chapcha gewog of Chukha dzongkhag was cancelled by the Election Commission of Bhutan because of his affiliation to a political party on 7 December 2007.

After an additional nomination period, the candidates for the five dzongkhags which had postponed their elections were as follows:[11]

Dzongkhag | Gewog | Candidate

|
|

Gasa | Goenkhatey | Sangay Khandu
Haa | Bji | Tshering Dorji
Lhuentse | Khoma | Rinzin Dorji
Thimphu | N/A | Sangay Tsoki
Thimphu | Thim Throm | Sangay Zam
Trashiyangtse | N/A | Kelzang Wangdi
Trashiyangtse | Yalang | Kezang Namgyal
Trashiyangtse | N/A | Sherub Tenzin
Trashiyangtse | N/A | Ugyen Wangdi

## Results

[edit]

The 15 members of the National Council of Bhutan who were elected on 31 December 2007 were:[12]

Dzongkhag | Gewog | Winner

|
|

Bumthang | Ura | Tshewang Jurmin
Chukha | Bjachho | Tshewang Lhamo
Dagana | Kana | Sonam Dorji
Mongar | Saling | Naichu
Paro | Dopshari | Ugyen Tshering
Pema Gatshel | Shumar | Jigme Rinzin
Punakha | Goen Shari | Namgay Penjore
Samdrup Jongkhar | Lauri | Jigme Wangchuk
Samtse | Chargaray | Mani Kumar Rai
Sarpang | Gelephu | Karma Donnen Wangdi
Trashigang | Shongphu | Sonam Kinga[10]
Trongsa | Tangsibji | Jagar Dorji
Tsirang | Phuentenchhu | Justin Gurung
Wangdue Phodrang | Nyisho | Sonam Yangchen
Zhemgang | Nangkor | Pema Lhamo

In the remaining five dzongkhags, the following candidates were elected:[11]

Dzongkhag | Gewog | Winner

|
|

Gasa | Goenkhatey | Sangay Khandu†
Haa | Bji | Tshering Dorji†
Lhuentse | Khoma | Rinzin Dorji†
Thimphu | Thim Throm | Sangay Zam
Trashiyangtse | Yalang | Kezang Namgyal

† elected unopposed

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The Hindu News Update Service Archived November 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ National Council elections on December 26, Hindustan Times, 2007-10-21, accessed on 2007-12-30
3. ^ "312,817 voters on final electoral roll". Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
4. ^ "Bhutan upper house polls on Dec 26 : Asia World". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
5. ^ a b c "Upper House has lower profile". Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
6. ^ "Another shot at selection". Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
7. ^ Notification: National Council Elections 2007[permanent dead link]
8. ^ Bhutan steps towards democracy[permanent dead link]
9. ^ "Bhutan ready for historic parliamentary polls | Indian Muslims". Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
10. ^ a b c "Your Elected National Council for Trashigang". Archived from the original on 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
11. ^ a b Bhutan NC Elections Archived March 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
12. ^ Your National Council Archived 2008-06-16 at the Wayback Machine

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