Who Is Tshering Tobgay, Set To Become Bhutan's New PM

Former Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay's party emerged victorious in Bhutan's election on Tuesday. The polls were marked by concerns over economic challenges that tested the Himalayan kingdom's longstanding commitment to prioritizing "Gross National Happiness" over conventional growth.

Tshering Tobgay's People's Democratic Party (PDP) secured nearly two-thirds of the parliamentary seats. The 58-year-old, known for his advocacy in conservation, is anticipated to assume the role of premier for the second time.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the PDP and the party chief Tshering Tobgay for their triumph in the parliamentary elections.

The Prime Minister said in a post on X, "Heartiest congratulations to my friend @tsheringtobgay and the People's Democratic Party for winning the parliamentary elections in Bhutan. Look forward to working together again to further strengthen our unique ties of friendship and cooperation."

Who is Tshering Tobgay?
Prior to his political career, Tshering Tobgay served as a civil servant, commencing in 1991 within the Technical and Vocational Education Section (TVES) of Bhutan's Education Division. Following his tenure at TVES from 1991 to 1999, Tobgay went on to establish and lead the National Technical Training Authority (NTTA) from 1999 to 2003.

Subsequently, Tobgay held the position of director of the Human Resources department in the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources from 2003 to 2007. In February 2007, he resigned from the Ministry of Labour, entering the political arena to fulfill duties for the reigning king, who ushered in democracy in 2008. Following the 2013 election, Tobgay assumed the role of Prime Minister of Bhutan through a secret ballot.

A founding member of the People's Democratic Party, Tobgay played a pivotal role in establishing the party as Bhutan's first registered political entity. In the 2008 election, the PDP secured only two seats, with Tobgay winning one of them. In 2009, with the resignation of the PDP's leader Sangay Ngedup, Tobgay assumed leadership of the party. Post the 2013 election, Tobgay was once again elected as Prime Minister of Bhutan through a secret ballot.

The 58-year-old politician has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's in public administration from Harvard. He is married to Tashi Doma and they have two children.