Elections, elections, elections

With the approaching D-day, candidates and parties, votes and voting, are sealed on the lips of every individual in town

The National Assembly (NA) primaries will be conducted day after tomorrow, and the stuff of hot interest is politics and elections among people.

The four political parties, their manifestos and ideologies are on everyone’s lips with talks going around in the town corners, be it in the parking lot, restaurants, bars, hotels, shops, in buses, in offices, in temples, families and friends out on tea-time in the evening.

Basically, politics is the order of the day for people who plan to go their villages and dzongkhags to cast their votes.

Sherab Thaye, 40, from Bhur, Sarpang who owns a small shop in Gelephu said looking at the common forum, everyone seemed quite competent, and even pledges from each party sounded good.

“So, I am going to vote for the party that can really benefit the people,” he said.

His wife who is originally from Bumthang has already booked a bus ticket to go vote in Bumthang.

She said, “Everyone has their own way of ruling, so if they are chosen to rule I think all four of them are capable. But, as of now, we can’t say who will win. We are waiting for the day and during the general elections, I will consult my seniors and see who is good enough, then will cast my vote.”

Lepo, 53, from Umling is a bit skeptical on the pledges the parties are making. He said later they will not be able to fulfill any big promises and blame it on budget constraints.

“Through common forum, everything seems perfect; everyone is competent, eloquent, though some did lack communication or presentation skills,” he said. “At the same time there are two types of people, one who can do what they may not be able to say gracefully and those who are not very eloquent or competent, and prove just the same even in deeds.”

People who are not really aware of the pledges, but just know there are four parties will go to their constituencies, before-hand to learn from their relatives, and then vote for a party.

Hari Maya Kharka, 28 a resident of Gelephu is one among such undecided voters.

There are also people who are not privileged enough to cast their votes even though they want to like Ran Bahadur Mongar, 34 who had census issues for the last 12 years. He hopes whoever wins will address such problems, since many others face the same problem.

Sarpang Dzongkhag has 26, 416 eligible voters.