Jigme Palden Dorji

Jigme Palden Dorji
1st Prime Minister of Bhutan
In office 1952 – 6 April 1964
Monarch	Jigme Dorji
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Jigme Thinley
Personal details
Born	1919 Bhutan House, Kalimpong, India
Died	6 April 1964 (aged 44-45) Phuntsoling Guesthouse, Bhutan
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Ashi Tsering Yangzom
Children	4
Parents	Sonam Topgay Dorji Chuni Wangmo

Dasho (Lord) Jigme Palden Dorji (1919 – 6 April 1964) was a Bhutanese politician and member of the Dorji family. By marriage, he was also a member of the House of Wangchuck.

The brother-in-law of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Dorji was close to his kinsman and accompanied the future king when he lived in the United Kingdom in 1950.

Appointed Chief Minister (Gongzim) in 1952, he became the first man to hold the title Prime Minister of Bhutan (Lonchen). This followed the upgrading of the old position in 1958 as part of a wider series of reforms by Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. As brother-in-law of the Dragon King of Bhutan Dorji helped to drive the king's modernisation polices. However his reforms antagonised both the military and the religious institutions leading to a corporal in the army assassinating him in April 1964. Namgyal Bahadur, head of the Royal Bhutan Army, was amongst those executed for the murder plot.

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