Tshering Tobgay is new PDP president

Thimphu, March 23, 2009: Opposition leader in the National Assembly Tsherng Tobgay has been elected as the president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday. 

New PDP president Tshering Tobgay

The first gathering of the party leaders and cadres in Thimphu elected Tobgay to the top job after formally accepting the resignation from Sangay Ngedup. Ngedup while informing the gathering of his resignation accepted the failure of the party in the first ever democratic election was due to him.

I failed, therefore I resign, he said.

The gathering also elected Ritu Rai Chettri (Samtse), Yeshi Dorji (Lhuntse) and Damcho Dorji (Gasa) as the Vice Presidents and Sonam Jamtsho of Lhuentse as General Secretary of the party.

In his acceptance speech as the new party president, Tobgay said with Ngedup leaving the party, the PDP will have a difficult time ahead.

Ngedup signed off as party chief last year after continued pressure from banks and other companies to pay back the loans taken during the election campaigns. Indebted of over Nu 20 million, the party still has over Nu 4 million to pay debts. The convention also discussed the financial status of the party and ways to raise funds to pay back the debts.