The winner is congratulated over the telephone
For the past four months Lt Colonel (retrd.) Kesang Namgyal had set camp in the easternmost district of Trashiyangtse traversing its rugged terrain and meetings its people.
He was nominated for the National Council election from Yalang gewog some time in November, but he had to wait for another month as his only opponent at that time was disqualified for not producing a valid university certificate. It was worth the wait.
The former army man finally won a seat in the National Council from Trashiyangtse securing 1,936 votes and getting the better of the other three candidates, Sherub Tenzin from Ramjar gewog, Ugyen Wangdi from Yangtse gewog, and Kelzang Wangdi from Toetsho gewog, all of whom joined the race at the last moment.
But it was not a hands-down victory. Sherub Tenzin was snapping at the military heels with 1,773 votes followed by Ugyen Wangdi with 1,315 votes. Kelzang Wangdi secured only 790 votes.
