President of Druk Nyamrup

One reason why people should vote for Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa?

DNT is here because democracy matters.  Democracy matters because it’s our future.  It gave us equal voice and equal vote for every individual, and everyone has a stake in the government.  We’re here as a voice of the free people of Bhutan.

Our people deserve better.  It’s about the drudgery of poverty, the challenges of youth in the new times, our women in their evolving roles, and of those who can’t reap the benefit of development.

From a complete no to politics, to becoming the president and leading one of the political parties, how…

At different points in life, one is often confronted with difficult choices that one has to make.  There was a greater need felt for a senior, ex-government servant like me to participate in our young democracy for the greater good of the nation.  We can’t afford to stay away from politics because it affects our lives and our nation.  The honour also comes with great responsibility and I’m not afraid because I am here to serve my Kings, the country and the people.

Everyone said you were a far better candidate in the previous election. Why do you think you lost?

I wish I had an answer.  Perhaps, maybe so, that I could learn and become a better person and a better candidate for this election.  Our journey of democracy has just begun and we’re just one-election year old.  Correct analysis is difficult.  But I respect the mandate of the people.  That is what democracy is.

Do you think Nyamrup will make it past the primary?

Our preparations are all aimed towards getting through to the primary round and beyond.  Let the people decide.

What happens if it doesn’t?

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa is a political institution and has been instituted with a vision to look beyond 2013 election.  We’re here to be honest, to tell the truth to the nation, to provide a platform for democratic discourse on important national issues and politics.  Election isn’t the end.  We will continue to believe in democracy.  We will continue to grow, to wonder, to inspire, to listen and to help.  We will continue to share and serve, and above all we will continue to dream and hope.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa will be there as long as democracy lives, as long as we live as a free people, believing in freedom, justice and solidarity.

What have you learnt from the previous election that will help you this time?

It was an enriching experience and it was a great honour to be involved in the first democratic election of our country.  Everything in life is a learning experience.  However, I have realised that it’s very important to educate the general mass on democracy on continuous basis.  There is a danger that innocent people in rural areas will be subject to threat and other illegal means in the process of securing votes.

Do you think candidates that make up the party will matter in 2013 election, which was not the case in the first election?

We’ve given serious consideration in the selection of our candidates.  Despite challenges, we have good candidates and we’re satisfied.  I definitely feel that candidates will be a determining factor this time.  All the constituencies need a good and capable representative in the parliament.  Politics shouldn’t be a showbiz of charisma and personality.  It should be about serving the nation.

All the new parties have been struggling to make the 47-candidate list.  Would you consider joining forces?

We have all 47 candidates and we don’t foresee any merger at this time.  A strong party is a party that stands together in nyamrup spirit and work on the collective wisdom.

New times, new ideas … give an example …

The world has changed and so has Bhutan.  The challenges we face as Bhutanese and global citizens are unprecedented.  The old economic model isn’t serving us anymore, climate change is affecting one and all, the aspirations of the people differ.  These are truly new times, calling for creative and innovative ideas and solutions.  Druk Nyamrup tshogpa shall seek new ideas to confront new challenges.

Is it any different to be a woman and to be leading a party?

I’ve never looked at it from that perspective.  Excellence has no gender.  Integrity and honesty should have no excuses.  Party leadership needs to lead by example.  There’s nothing more powerful than to lead by example.  Only action can give true meaning to the written or spoken words.  Remember the body knows, the intellect only guesses.  A true leader, a woman or a man, should have a genuine heart to serve the people, not earn a name for himself or herself.