National Council elections were held in Bhutan for the first time on 31 December 2007,The Hindu News Update Service having been originally scheduled for 26 December., Hindustan Times, 2007-10-21, accessed on 2007-12-30 The new National Council had 25 members, which 20 members were directly elected from 20 dzongkhags by 312,817 eligible voters, and five more were appointed by the Druk Gyalpo. Nominations had to be filed by 27 November 2007, and the campaigning for 15 of the 20 dzongkhags took place from 30 November until 31 December 2007.
The elections were not held in five dzongkhags (Thimphu, Trashiyangtse, Gasa, Haa and Lhuntse) on 31 December 2007 since they either did not have any candidate or had only a single candidate till the last date for filing the nominations and the election rules state that there should be at least two candidates for each dzongkhag, otherwise the election would be postponed for that particular dzongkhag. The elections in these five dzongkhags were held on 29 January 2008.
Election procedure In contrast to the National Assembly's 47 party-based members, the National Council members were elected on a non-party basis and were meant to be eminent people from civil society. The two conditions laid down for the candidature for the National Council of Bhutan were non-affiliation to any political party and the minimum qualification of graduation from a university. The candidates for a particular dzongkhag were selected through the (meetings) convened in each gewog of that dzongkhag specifically for this purpose.Notification: National Council Elections 2007
Candidates A total of 43 candidates contested in 15 dzongkhags in the elections were held on 31 December 2007.Bhutan steps towards democracy The highest number of candidates were in Samtse, Dagana, Mongar and Paro with four candidates each. Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang, Trongsa, Punakha and Trashigang had three candidates each. Chukha, Pemagatsel, Tsirang, Bumthang, Wangduephodrang and Zhemgang had two candidates each.
A total of 48 candidates filed their nominations for this election by 27 November 2007:
Dzongkhag Gewog Candidate Bumthang Chhoekhor Jigme Palden Bumthang Ura Tshewang Jurmin Chukha Bongo Sonam Dorji Wangchuk Chukha Bjachho Tshewang Lhamo Chukha Chapcha Thinley Dorji Dagana Kana Sonam Dorji Dagana Drujeygang Kesang Dema Dagana Tshendeygang Mongal Singh Gurung Dagana Lhamoyzingkha Krishna Bahadur Tamang Gasa None Haa Bji Tshering Dorji Lhuntse Khoma Rinzin Rinzin Mongar Silambi Choki Drakpa Mongar Saling Naichu Mongar Chali Pema Tenzin Mongar Chaskhar Pema Wangdi Paro Dopshari Ugyen Tshering Paro Lango Ugyen Tshering Paro Wangchang Phub Dorji Paro Lungnyi Jambay Pema Gatshel Dechenling Sangay Tempa Pema Gatshel Shumar Jigme Rinzin Punakha Goen Shari Namgay Penjore Punakha Kabjisa Sangay Phurba Punakha Talo Namgay Ratty Dorji Samdrup Jongkhar Orong Kuenga Dorji Samdrup Jongkhar Deothang Sangay Lhendup Samdrup Jongkhar Lauri Jigme Wangchuk Samtse Dorokha Chhatrapati Phuyel Samtse Chargaray Mani Kumar Rai Samtse Bara Lal Bahadur Gurung Samtse Tendu Bishnu Lal Gurung Sarpang Gelephu Karma Donnen Wangdi Sarpang Shompangkha Jamyang Sherub Wangdi Sarpang Dekiling Dhan Bahadur Mongar Thimphu Thim Throm Sangay Zam Trashigang Shongphu Sonam Kinga Trashigang Bidung Tashi Tshering Trashigang Samkhar Ngawang Jamtsho Trashiyangtse Yalang Kezang Namgyal Trongsa Nubi Namgay Wangchuk Trongsa Tangsibji Jagar Dorji Trongsa Korphu Chimi Dorji Tsirang Kikorthang Pema Dukpa Tsirang Phuentenchhu Justin Gurung Wangduephodrang Nyisho Sonam Yangchen Wangduephodrang Phangyul Kaka Dawa Zhemgang Trong Pema Dhendup Zhemgang Nangkor Pema Lhamo
The candidature of Thinley Dorji from Chapcha gewog of Chukha dzongkhag was cancelled by the Election Commission of Bhutan because of his affiliation to a political party on 7 December 2007.
After an additional nomination period, the candidates for the five dzongkhags which had postponed their elections were as follows:Bhutan NC Elections
Dzongkhag Gewog Candidate Gasa Goenkhatey Sangay Khandu Haa Bji Tshering Dorji Lhuentse Khoma Rinzin Rinzin Thimphu N/A Sangay Tsoki Thimphu Thim Throm Sangay Zam Trashiyangtse N/A Kelzang Wangdi Trashiyangtse Yalang Kezang Namgyal Trashiyangtse N/A Sherub Tenzin Trashiyangtse N/A Ugyen Wangdi
Results The 15 members of the National Council of Bhutan who were elected on 31 December 2007 were:Your National Council
Dzongkhag Gewog Winner Bumthang Ura Tshewang Jurmin Chukha Bjachho Tshewang Lhamo Dagana Kana Sonam Dorji Mongar Saling Naichu Paro Dopshari Ugyen Tshering Pema Gatshel Shumar Jigme Rinzin Punakha Goen Shari Namgay Penjore Samdrup Jongkhar Lauri Jigme Wangchuk Samtse Chargaray Mani Kumar Rai Sarpang Gelephu Karma Donnen Wangdi Trashigang Shongphu Sonam Kinga Trongsa Tangsibji Jagar Dorji Tsirang Phuentenchhu Justin Gurung Wangdue Phodrang Nyisho Sonam Yangchen Zhemgang Nangkor Pema Lhamo
In the remaining five dzongkhags, the following candidates were elected:
Dzongkhag Gewog Winner Gasa Goenkhatey Sangay Khandu† Haa Bji Tshering Dorji† Lhuentse Khoma Rinzin Dorji† Thimphu Thim Throm Sangay Zam Trashiyangtse Yalang Kezang Namgyal
† elected unopposed
References