First historic voting starts in the nation

Thimphu, December 31: Over 300,000 people in 15 out of 20 dzongkhags are in queues this morning to cast their votes to choose 15 members for upper house National Council, the first of its kind in the history of the nation.

On December 31, 41 candidates have come to the floor for the contest through which the regime said will turn the kingdom from an absolute monarchy to constitutional.

In 15 dzongkhags, around 270,000 voters will determine thier representatives.

The votes are being casted in between 8 am and 4 pm. ECB has restricted the voters entering the poll station with mobile phones, knives.

The commission said result of the elections will be handed over to the king tomorrow, whose ascent is required to legalise the elections.

In five districts, Thimphu, Gasa, Trashiyangtse, Haa and Lhuentse, the elections will be held on January 29. The election in these districts was postponed by a month due to lack of candidates.

Following is the list of candidates their dzongkhags they are contesting from:

CHHUKHA DZONGKHAG 
Sonam Dorji Wangchuk
Tshewang Lhamo 
       
DAGANA DZONGKHAG 
Mongal Singh Gurung
Kezang Dema
Sonam Dorji
Krishna Bahadur Tamang
       
SAMDRUP JONGKHAR DZONGKHAG 
Jigme Wangchuk
Kinga Dorji
       
WANGDUE DZONGKHAG 
Sonam Yangchen 
Kaka Dawa 
       
ZHEMGANG DZONGKHAG 
Pema Lhamo
Pema Dhendup
       
PARO DZONGKHAG 
Ugyen Tshering
Jambe Dorji
Phub Dorji
       
PUNAKHA DZONGKHAG 
Sangay Phurba
Namgay Dorji
Namgye Penjore
       
SARPANG DZONGKHAG 
Karma Donnen Wangdi
Dhan Bahadur Mongar
Jamyang Sherap Wangdi
       
TSIRANG DZONGKHAG 
Justin Gurung
Pema Drukpa

BUMTHANG DZONGKHAG
Jigme Palden
Tshewang Jurmin

MONGAR DZONGKHAG
Naichu
Pema tenzin
Pema Wangdi
Choki Drakpa

PEMAGATSHEL DZONGKHAG
Sangey Tempa
Jigme Rigzin

SAMTSE DZONGKHAG
Bishnu Lal Gurung
Chhatrapati Phuyel
M. K. Rai
L. B. GUrung

TRASHIGANG DZONGKHAG
Nawang Jamtsho
Sonam Kinga
Tashi Tshering

TRONGSA DZONGKHAG
Jagar Dorji
Namgay Wangchuk

Bhutan News Service