They both have the same names, worked as bankers, were in the same college, worked in the same city of Phuentsholing for some time and are also good friends. Meet Tsencho Dorji of PDP and Chencho Dorji of DPT (both names pronounced the same) of the Dogar-Sabha constituency in Paro. Chuckling in between his election interview, Tsencho said, "We both got our marriage certificates together with my wife being his witness, I being his wife's witness and vice versa.' In fact, all the election campaigning still amazingly hasn't created any serious bitterness between the two of them. Another coincidence here is that the wives of the two candidates are also friends. "We were good friends and are still good friends and we never fail to crack a joke or two when we pass each other while campaigning or at some event,' said the DPT Chencho. "I've requested my tshogpas not to make any personal attacks on my friend,' said the PDP Tsencho. However, on asking about their constituency, all the smiles vanish and concern sets in. PDP Tsencho said, "Politics apart, our constituency is a living proof that many areas of my constituency are more backward then many areas in eastern Bhutan.' Agreeing with this, the DPT Chencho said, "My tour here has really opened my eyes to how undeveloped our constituency is without adequate water, farm roads and many basic amenities missing.' Indeed, both candidates have stressed their main approach on the burning issue of drinking and irrigation water here in the constituency getting worse over the past few years. "People only see the flashy roads and broad fields and think that we are developed but nothing can be further from the truth,' said Tsencho. Both candidates said that areas like Naja and Dogar were mainly isolated and up in the hills with no good access and, along with Shaba, water sources were drying. Many locals said that development for this constituency was getting the most basic of water and communication facilities for farmers. In fact, a crucial part of any politics in this constituency is the water politics, with this area having most of its litigation cases linked directly or indirectly to water. Even for the most developed gewog of Shaba, knives are sometimes drawn over drinking water connections with sabotage of drinking water lines becoming the most common crime. Once old and friendly neighbors or even villagers are now on the verge of going for each other's throats with daily threats and squabbles over an inadequate water supply. Zangmo of Dogar said, "All that we get in terms of help from the government is dust blown in our faces by Dashos travelling between Paro and Thimphu.' The feeling of being left behind and of being ignored runs deep in this constituency and the two banker friends and candidates are both hoping that they may be able to at least highlight if not completely turn around things in this constituency. The candidates acknowledge the big challenge in front of them of a highly developed upper Paro and underdeveloped and ignored lower Paro, which is now their constituency. In the zomdus (meetings) of both candidates, one can see at times tears of desperation welling up in the eyes of people as they complain bitterly about how bad things are. An emotional Tshering Dorjee said, "It's extremely frustrating that, while the government has grand plans of spending millions on grand projects like airports and highways, we're not even getting adequate drinking water'. Both candidates are confident of winning and but for the voters of this surprisingly underdeveloped constituency, this election could be nothing more then a nuisance in their survival to struggle. "Given that we've been largely left to our own devices I hope that whoever wins will be able to give us water, that's all we need instead of any other grand promises,' said Tashi Wangchuk. By Tenzing Lamsang