March 2: People’s Democratic Party’s Gelephu constituency candidate Garab Dorji has been disqualified from contesting the National Assembly elections.

A news release from the Election Commission says the Election Dispute Settlement Body found Garab Dorji guilty of giving out copies of a document presented by the DPT president at an international conference in 1993 in his capacity as the Home Secretary on issues relating to the Ngolop problem.

According to the news release, the findings were based on a thorough investigation by the Dzongkhag Electoral Officers of Sarpang Dzongkhag and the Anti-Corruption Commission after complaints from Druk Phuensum Tshogpa.

It says the act of giving copies of the document and carrying out activities aimed at creating ill-will and incitement of regionalism for political gain is in violation of article 15(3) of the Draft Constitution which states that candidates and political parties shall not resort to regionalism, ethnicity, and religion to incite voters for electoral gain.

It says having established, without a doubt, that his action is calculated to garner political support, the candidature of Garab Dorji shall stand cancelled as per section 306 of the Election Bill with immediate effect.

Accordingly, the People’s Democratic Party has been asked to nominate an eligible candidate to contest the National Assembly elections from Gelephu constituency.