The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The upcoming Thromde elections on 15th July 2026 will decide the future of Bhutan’s capital. Residents must choose between two distinct visions for the city’s growth.
Sonam Choden and Ugyen Dorji are the final two candidates vying for the post of Thimphu Thrompon. The race presents a significant moment for local governance.
Sonam Choden aims to make history as the first woman to ever contest for the post of Thimphu Thrompon. She brings over 18 years of experience in media, leadership, and rural development.
She previously served as a reporter for the Bhutan Broadcasting Service and worked with the World Wildlife Fund. Sonam Choden holds a Master of Business Administration in Leadership from Australia.
Her campaign runs on the theme of “Basics and Beautification Together for Thimphu”. She believes her candidacy addresses the low representation of women in local government.
If elected, Sonam Choden pledges to prioritize “Basics First” by focusing on water and drainage. “Thimphu needs leadership that delivers basics and cares for beautification,” she says regarding her vision. She intends to chair the council to ensure water and drains are prioritized over new roads until all areas are equal.
Sonam Choden promises to publish a monthly dashboard to track water access and waste pickup in every demkhong. She also plans to shift part of the road budget toward creating safe footpaths and streetlights for children and the elderly. To ensure community engagement, she vows to “hold Demkhong Dzomdu every 3 months before council meetings”.
The incumbent Thrompon, Ugyen Dorji, seeks a second term to continue his work.
He served as the Mayor from 2021 to 2026 and holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering. His campaign focuses on transparency and improved public service delivery.
Ugyen Dorji aims to develop an inclusive and resilient city through modern infrastructure. He believes in enhancing the city’s facilities to be more pedestrian-friendly and climate-resilient. His experience in urban governance remains the cornerstone of his candidacy.
Ugyen Dorji’s manifesto states his primary goal is to “promote transparency for good urban governance”. He plans to enhance waste collection services to a daily schedule once he resumes office.
His administration would install 100 CCTV cameras to manage waste at critical locations around the city. He also intends to introduce buses along secondary feeder roads to connect residents to main routes.
To address utility needs, he pledges to construct two new water treatment plants and a dedicated City Hall. He further aims to “clean and green the open spaces along the river” through micro-gardening and community partnerships.
