Jigme Palden Dorji (1919-6 April 1964)[1] was a Bhutanese politician and member of the Dorji family. By marriage, he was also a member of the House of Wangchuck.[2]
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.[3]
Appointed Chief minister (Gongzim) in 1952, he became the first man to hold the title Prime Minister of Bhutan (Lonchen).[4] This followed the upgrading of the old position in 1958 as part of a wider series of reforms by Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.[5] 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.[5]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Raja Sonam Topgay Dorji |
Prime Minister of Bhutan 1952 – 1964 |
Succeeded by Lhendup Dorji (acting) |
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