In a historic first, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won the Nubi-Tangsibji constituency in the recent bye-election held on 4 September 2025. Phuntsho Dendup, the PDP candidate, secured 1,462 votes, defeating his opponent Tashi Samdrup of the Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP), who garnered 1,079 votes. This marks the first time in National Assembly elections that PDP has emerged victorious in the constituency.
Speaking to Business Bhutan, the Member of Parliament elect expressed his humility and gratitude, emphasizing that the victory reflects the people’s growing understanding and engagement with democracy. “I am happy not because I or the party won, but because the people have embraced democracy and exercised their voice,” he said.
At the same time, Phuntsho acknowledged the weight of responsibility that comes with the win. “Now, my shoulders carry the aspirations of the people. I am committed to serving them and fulfilling their expectations,” he said. He added that the strength of PDP ensures that the party’s pledges for development will be delivered.
Emphasizing unity, he remarked, “Before the results, I was just the candidate of PDP. Today, I am the representative of all the people of Nubi-Tangsibji.”
Of the 4,899 registered voters (2,265 men and 2,634 women), 2,531 cast their votes, including 1,792 via electronic voting machines and 739 via postal ballots, achieving a voter turnout of 51.66%. By comparison, during the 2024 National Assembly general election, the voter turnout was slightly higher at 3,002 votes, when BTP’s Tashi Dorji had won 1,629 votes, while Phuntsho Dendup had secured 1,373 votes.
Historically, the constituency has seen representation from multiple parties. In the 2018 General Elections, Yeshey Penjor served as the Agriculture and Livestock Minister under the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) government. During the second Parliament, the constituency was represented by Nidup Zangpo of DPT, showing the region’s diverse political alignment over the years.
During his campaign, Phuntsho Dendup reaffirmed PDP’s commitment to the holistic development of Nubi-Tangsibji, unveiling a comprehensive manifesto under the slogan “For a Better Druk Yul.” Key priorities include resurfacing gewog center roads, constructing new farm roads and village footpaths, and assigning routine maintenance to the Department of Surface Transport.
The others are improving market access for farmers, establishing a food processing plant, developing farm shops, aggregating farm produce, and installing chain-link fences to prevent human-wildlife conflicts.
The candidate has also pledged to ensure reliable drinking water supply to all chiwogs, electrifying selected paddy fields, and building irrigation channels to boost crop yields.
In health, he had said that there would be monthly medical visits to all gewog health centers, mobile medical vans for door-to-door services, and a Nu.10,000 monthly support scheme for third-child families. He also pledged increasing Rural Life Insurance from Nu.30,000 to Nu.150,000.
Other pledges include reviewing and upgrading schools, establishing central schools in larger chiwogs, and creating chiwog schools based on community needs to ensure equitable access to quality education, offering subsidized loans for first-time homebuyers and leasing government land in Keila to landless individuals and supporting local religious projects, including Chendejee Lhakhang. The member elect also pledged providing each gewog with a fully funded pool vehicle to enhance service delivery.
Phuntsho’s victory signals not just a political milestone for PDP, but also the growing engagement of citizens in democratic processes and the constituency’s trust in progressive development agendas. The people of Nubi-Tangsibji now look forward to seeing their aspirations translated into tangible progress.
Sangay Rabten from Thimphu
