In a major setback during the first round of general elections, incumbent PM Tshering Tobgay’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been ousted from the polls and will not run in the second and third round of the election. Instead, the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) headed by Dr. Lotay Tshering, and the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) will face off on October 18th. The DNT won the highest number of votes.
Tshering Tobgay took social media and congratulated the candidates. “I congratulate DNT and DPT and their candidates (on) their outstanding performance,” Tobgay posted on Twitter.
Corruption, poverty, unemployment, criminal gang remains a challenge in Bhutan’s economy. Last year India and China became embroiled in a military standoff over the Doklam plateau high in the Himalayas claimed by both China and Bhutan.