Eight Candidates join DNT

Fresh after a week of its registration as a political party with the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB), the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) revealed its first eight candidates to the Nation.

Talking to The Bhutanese the octet expressed in unison that it was the ‘nation’s call’ that made them join politics.

Dr. Singye Namgyal – ‘Heart son of Bhutan’ beckons to its call

The good Doctor who will contest from Khar-Yurung Constituency under Pemagatshel Dzongkhag said the Royal Call by His Majesty the King during the 105th National Day celebrations to partake in the democratic process is something he cannot forget.

“I thought the call was too precious to be ignored and joining politics as a candidate from DNT was the only platform that I saw,” he said.

A recipient of the Druk Thuksey Medal from His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Dr. Singye Namgyal is presently the Director and Director General of Sherubtse College. The 52 year old political aspirant worked in different educational institutions for more than three decades during which he interacted with people from all walks of life. This, he sees as his strength in politics.

As teacher and an administrator, Dr. Singye Namgyal managed the Institute for Language and Cultural Studies (ILCS) and Sherubtse College. He also worked as the District Education Officer (DEO, Trashigang.

He would address some of the serious issues related to governance, distribution mechanism and wrong prioritization and many other social-problems.

Jigme Zangpo – multifaceted man of education, administration and purveyor of justice

An educationist and a former Drangpon, Dasho Jigme Zangpo will contest from Mongar Constituency.

After 40 years in the government and two years back in his village, the many experiences today had become his greatest strength. He did his Masters in Education from University of New Brunswick, Canada from 1986-1987.

He also realized this was a nation’s call to serve king, country and people again by joining politics.

After 26 years in the education sector he became the Dzongda of Bumthang and Paro. He had the chance to listen to people about their difficulties and their needs, and take it up to the National Assembly.

His journey as Drangpon made him understand the importance of the judiciary and made him a man of principles and a person who could share the importance of living an honest life to the people in his village.

Lekey Dorji – experienced politician makes a comeback for round two

With an engineering background, he will contest from Bardo-Trong Constituency, Zhemgang.  He has an Msc in Operational Telecommunications from Coventry University in England.

He could not win in the 2008 elections, but he is not over and out.

“I have decided to make a comeback because I take it as a personal responsibility to take up the call of the locality and the nation seriously as a political candidate,” he said.

He founded DNT with his friends after seeing the tyranny of a dominating government and a weak opposition.

Yeshey Penjor – possibly a potential office holder to engineer Bhutan’s ‘green’ goals

Another DNT candidate with an engineering background, he will contest from Nubi-Tansibji constituency, Trongsa.

“My desire to join politics is inspired by the support I received from the people of my constituency, as much as by my educational and working colleagues,” he said.

Yeshey has 15 years of experience in the Department of Power and the National Environment Commission (NEC). He also has experience in hydropower, environment and in United Nations Systems. This gave him ample opportunity to travel internationally for qualification enhancement and participation in climate change negotiations and other environmental forums.

Achyut Bhandari makes up his mind to exercise his principles of freedom, justice and solidarity

“I have decided to join politics because I believe that it is my duty, and also the call of the nation, for a senior citizen like me to come forward in nurturing and strengthening our fledgling democracy at this critical juncture of our nationhood,” he said.

He was approached by two other political parties yet he joined DNT because he was moved by the passion and the tenacity of his colleagues from all parts of Bhutan.

He served as director general in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and as the managing director of Bhutan Post.

Loknath Sharma – could give Lyonpo Thakur a run for his Chair

An opponent for the present Education Minister, Loknath Sharma will represent DNT from the Dorokha- Tading Constituency, Samtse. Currently he is a Regional head in the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) in Gelephu.

“I have decided to join politics to deliver a well focused and consistent service to the people,” he said.

Tandi Dorji – medicine man returns to heal the country with ‘Nyamrup spirit and style’

With a medical background, Dr. Tandi Dorji who participated in 2008 elections will contest from Lingmukha-Toewang Constituency, Punakha.

Nima Tshering – went to Harvard, returned to heed Bhutan’s call

The DNT rep from Doga-Shaba constituency, Paro says taking kidu to the people and serving the poorest of the poor at their door steps as His Majesty’s Zimpon Wogma to the Office of the Gyalpoi Zimpon nspired him to join politics.

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5 comments

  1. I don’t know whether Dr Singye Namgyel’s joining politics for the country or not but for education in Bhutan and especially for Sherubtse College it is a real boon. People like lekey dorji and Nima Tshering are so selfish and self centered. To get a good understanding of their real nature, voters should consult people who have worked with them.

  2. I know Dr Singye Namgay and Yeshey Penjor very well. They are good people with good intention. I wish two of them all the best.
    Cheers

  3. In politics they cannot be ‘real themselves”

  4. DNT’s eight new candidates seem relatively stronger than what DCT or even BKP has shown so far. As of now looking at the candidates and the party structure PDP and DNT seem to be on top. However, these two parties should be open to a merger in case one of them don’t make it to the final rounds. Their real target should be the so far invincible DPT. 

    • Dr.Singay Namgay was a asset to the Dept. of education and they should have retained him for future. 

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