# 2013 Bhutanese National Council election

National Council elections were held in Bhutan on 23 April 2013. All candidates ran as independents, as National Council members were prohibited from belonging to a political party.

## Electoral system

The 20 members of the National Council were elected in single-member constituencies equivalent to the country's twenty Dzongkhags. A further five members were appointed by the Druk Gyalpo.
Candidates had to register by 31 March, whilst the campaigning period lasted from 1 to 21 April. A total of 67 candidates registered to run in the election, although the Dagana and Trashigang dzongkhags had only one candidate each. In those dzongkhags voters were given the choice of voting against the only candidate.
Election day was a public holiday, and the country's borders were closed for the day.

## Results

| Dzongkhag | Candidate | Votes | % | Notes |
| Bumthang | Nima | 2,264 | 48.41 | Elected |
| Bumthang | Sonam Tenzin | 971 | 20.76 | |
| Bumthang | Rinchen Phuntsho | 951 | 20.33 | |
| Bumthang | Tshewang Jurmi | 491 | 10.50 | |
| Chukha | Pema Tenzin | 6,995 | 65.53 | Elected |
| Chukha | Tshewang Lhamo | 3,680 | 34.47 | |
| Dagana | Sonam Dorji | 7,989 | 81.83 | Elected |
| Dagana | Against | 1,774 | 18.17 | |
| Gasa | Sangay Khandu | 603 | 44.60 | Elected |
| Gasa | Tenzin | 407 | 30.10 | |
| Gasa | Yeshey Dorji | 342 | 25.30 | |
| Haa | Tshering Dorji | 1,866 | 51.68 | Elected |
| Haa | Khandu Wangchuk | 634 | 17.56 | |
| Haa | Choda Jamtsho | 631 | 17.47 | |
| Haa | Tenzin Norbu | 480 | 13.29 | |
| Lhuntse | Tempa Dorji | 3,193 | 60.08 | Elected |
| Lhuntse | Rinzin Rinzin | 2,122 | 39.92 | |
| Mongar | Sonam Wangchuk | 4,821 | 38.13 | Elected |
| Mongar | Naichu | 4,484 | 35.47 | |
| Mongar | Tshering Wangchen | 3,338 | 26.40 | |
| Paro | Kaka Tshering | 2,422 | 23.73 | Elected |
| Paro | Kinley Dorji | 2,075 | 20.33 | |
| Paro | Ugyen Tshering | 2,071 | 20.29 | |
| Paro | Sonam Wangchuk | 2,056 | 20.14 | |
| Paro | Tshewang Norbu | 1,583 | 15.51 | |
| Pemagatshel | Jigmi Rinzin | 5,184 | 57.78 | Elected |
| Pemagatshel | Pema Wangchuk | 2,103 | 23.44 | |
| Pemagatshel | Sherab Jamtsho | 1,685 | 18.78 | |
| Punakha | Rinzin Dorji | 3,449 | 55.51 | Elected |
| Punakha | Namgay Dorji | 2,764 | 44.49 | |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Jigme Wangchuk | 5,213 | 55.28 | Re-elected |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Kinga Dorji | 2,434 | 25.81 | |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | Sangay Lhendup | 1,784 | 18.92 | |
| Samtse | Sangay Khandu | 9,907 | 48.56 | Elected |
| Samtse | Dhan Kumar Ghalley | 4,595 | 22.52 | |
| Samtse | Chungdu Tshering | 1,944 | 9.53 | |
| Samtse | Chhatrapati Phuyel | 1,363 | 6.68 | |
| Samtse | Ganesh Ghimiray | 912 | 4.47 | |
| Samtse | Kharananda Dhakal | 906 | 4.44 | |
| Samtse | Narayan Dahal | 775 | 3.80 | |
| Sarpang | Dhan Bdr. Monger | 4,131 | 32.89 | Elected |
| Sarpang | Sonam Doekar | 3,855 | 30.69 | |
| Sarpang | Rangu Pati Suberi | 1,674 | 13.33 | |
| Sarpang | Anand Rai | 1,488 | 11.85 | |
| Sarpang | Dhan Kumar Basnet | 1,412 | 11.24 | |
| Thimphu | Nima Gyeltshen | 2,250 | 41.78 | Elected |
| Thimphu | Tshering | 1,624 | 30.16 | |
| Thimphu | Tshering Tashi | 1,511 | 28.06 | |
| Trashigang | Sonam Kinga | 11,229 | 81.20 | Re-elected |
| Trashigang | Against | 2,600 | 18.80 | |
| Trashiyangtse | Tashi Phuntsho | 3,226 | 58.51 | Elected |
| Trashiyangtse | Karma Gyeltshen | 2,288 | 41.49 | |
| Trongsa | Tharchen | 2,083 | 47.15 | Elected |
| Trongsa | Tashi Samdrup | 1,629 | 36.87 | |
| Trongsa | Jagar Dorji | 706 | 15.98 | |
| Tsirang | Kamal Bahadur Gurung | 2,381 | 24.40 | Elected |
| Tsirang | Passang Thingh Tamang | 2,011 | 20.61 | |
| Tsirang | Shyam Basnet | 1,920 | 19.68 | |
| Tsirang | Novin Darlami | 1,664 | 17.05 | |
| Tsirang | Sangay Tamang | 1,305 | 13.37 | |
| Tsirang | Justin Gurung | 477 | 4.89 | |
| Wangdue Phodrang | Tashi Dorji | 5,848 | 57.84 | Elected |
| Wangdue Phodrang | Sonam Yangchen | 3,540 | 35.01 | |
| Wangdue Phodrang | Chado Namgyal | 723 | 7.15 | |
| Zhemgang | Pema Dakpa | 2,413 | 35.92 | Elected |
| Zhemgang | Yeshi Tshomo | 1,219 | 18.15 | |
| Zhemgang | Dorji Kadin | 1,209 | 18.00 | |
| Zhemgang | Ugyen Chophel | 968 | 14.41 | |
| Zhemgang | Pema Lhamo | 909 | 13.53 | |
| Total | Total | 171,544 | 100 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 379,819 | 45.16 | |
| Source: Election Commission of Bhutan |||||

## Aftermath

Following the election Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck appointed Dasho Karma Yezer Raydi, Kuenlay Tshering, Karma Damcho Nidup, Tashi Wangmo and Tashi Wangyal to the Council.