People Power party (PPP) executives yesterday angrily rejected the five conditions to forming a coalition government set by the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties, saying the conditions were an insult to them.
Fifteen months after the Sept 19 bloodless coup, the military-appointed government is now set to eventually step down and hand over the reins of power to an elected government. As political parties continue their horse trading in a bid to form a viable coalition government, it is worth looking back at the political developments over that period for a better understanding of the situation in the aftermath of the Dec 23 election.
Military directives may be highly effective when staging a coup, but not when trying to fix the voting results under a democratic election. Despite the fact that the military had adopted an antagonistic stand towards pro-Thaksin elements following last year's coup, soldiers at the Ninth Infantry Division in Kanchanaburi seemed to have cast their votes freely in the election.
The Election Commission yesterday pressed election fraud charges against 12 prospective MPs from the People Power party (PPP). Eleven of them are elected constituency candidates and the other is a proportional representation candidate, said EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn.
It's time for Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa to make up his mind.
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday named five more People Power party (PPP) candidates it suspects cheated in the polls on Sunday.
Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda called for patience and continued dedication to the country yesterday, his first message since Sunday's polls saw the People Power party (PPP) win a mandate to try to form a government.
The People Power party (PPP) is divided over whether it should try to bring Chart Thai into its planned coalition government, following its apparent success in getting P
uea Pandin. Key PPP figure Newin Chidchob believes Chart Thai is now dispensable.
The Election Commission (EC) has only until today to issue red cards to errant winning candidates because of time constraints on the holding of by-elections.
Former two- and three-digit lottery sellers have welcomed the People Power party's (PPP) victory in the Dec 23 election. Representatives Natthachai Natcharanusorn and Wanna Hokanya took flowers to PPP headquarters yesterday to congratulate them on their victory.
The People Power party's fears came true yesterday when three elected PPP candidates in Nakhon Ratchasima were yellow-carded on suspicion of cheating at the polls on Sunday.
Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday he wants to return to Thailand in February and called for reconciliation with the military.
The Council for National Security (CNS) is ready to protect the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) if the People Power party (PPP) forms the new government, the Sept 19 coup leader, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, said yesterday.
The Criminal Court sentenced publisher Sondhi Limthongkul to three years in jail yesterday on charges of defaming former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and dragging the monarchy into politics. The court refused to suspend the sentence. A grim-faced Sondhi said he would appeal and was allowed 300,000 baht bail.
Three high-profile tax dodgers were arrested on Sunday after years on the run when they turned up to vote at a polling station in Pomprap Sattruphai district. Pairat, Paisit and Orawan Chuchinnawat were wanted in a 1.4-billion-baht tax evasion case when they were executives of the Thai Cable Industry, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) deputy director-general Pornchai Assawawattanaporn said.
Voters who were bribed are being encouraged to take their cases to the Election Commission (EC) so the vote-buyers can be punished. The Asia Network for Free Elections (Anfrel) yesterday urged the Election Commission to look seriously into Sunday's election violations.
The Election Commission (EC) is ready to hold a Senate election on March 2. EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said the new government willbe asked to issue a royal decree for the Senate selection and election.
Advanced Info Service president Wichien Mektrakarn said it was unfair to link yesterday's sharp increase in the share prices of Shin Corp companies to the victory of the People Power Party.
Thai stocks surged 3.65% yesterday as investors welcomed Sunday's successful polling results even as it remains uncertain who will form the next government.
The People Power party (PPP) is moving closer to forming a coalition government, with enough seats in the 480-member new parliament to ensure it will survive any punishment of its MPs by the Election Commission (EC).
The international community welcomed Sunday's general election as ''free and fair'' and looked forward to a smooth formation of the new government. Washington was the first to comment.
The result of the election has upset the military's top brass, including army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, who are worried about the People Power party (PPP) taking revenge for the Sept 19 coup last year.
The Election Commission (EC) will today begin considering the 1,030 election-related complaints it has received and the confirmation of winning candidates free of allegations. Boonkiart Rakchartcharoen, the EC's election management director, said the official announcement of winning candidates will be divided into two groups.
Voters were generally not surprised by the outcome of Sunday's general election, but many couldn't hide their disappointment with the result which has put Samak Sundaravej, the 72-year-old leader of the People Power party, within reach of the premiership.
Pattani _ The Wadah faction's confidence has been somewhat restored, despite winning only two of the 12 constituency seats in the three southern border provinces. Running under the People Power party (PPP) banner, its candidates Najmuddin Uma and Sukano Matha won in Narathiwat's constituency 2 and Yala's constituency 1, respectively. Mr Sukano is a younger brother of Wadah leader Wan Muhamad Nor Matha.
Songkhla _ Veteran tourism and hospitality business operators in the southern province of Songkhla are pessimistic about their business prospects as they lack confidence in a possible People Power party-led coalition's capability to solve the unrest in the deep South. Somchat Pimthanaphoonphorn, chairman of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Association, said only two People Power party (PPP) candidates won House seats in the far South.
Anti-Thaksin groups are split over the outcome of Sunday's general election, which saw the People Power party (PPP) backed by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra winning the most seats. While the Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD) accepted the election results, the Isan People Network planned to protest against any prospective coalition government led by the PPP.
The people have finally been given what they longed for in Sunday's polls _ a transformation from a military-backed government to an elected civilian administration. And although the People Power party (PPP) has been given a mandate to form a government after winning 232 seats in the election, the unprecedented high support for the Democrat party at both the constituency and proportional levels, and with 165 seats, also paves the way for Abhisit Vejjajiva to lead the country if PPP leader Samak Sundaravej is unable to form a coalition.
An unprecedented election win for the Democrats on Sunday in Chon Buri shows how the local influence of Somchai Khunpluem, better known as Kamnan Poh, has waned since his disappearance in the middle of last year. Kamnan Poh was found guilty of corruption in the purchase of 140 rai of public land in tambon Khao Mai Kaew, worth 93 million baht, for use as a garbage dump.
Business leaders were pessimistic that Sunday's election will lead to a pickup in economic growth.
Political stability and the new government's ability to implement campaign promises will help determine the direction of Thailand's economy in 2008, according to local economists.
Financial experts say investors will likely stay on the sidelines pending clarity about who will form the next government.
Foreign investors have welcomed the ''free, fair and calm'' elections held on Sunday, saying that the results would usher in a new era of growth for Thailand as the cloud of uncertainty over the country's economy lifted. ''What we see is that there is a certain degree of relief in the outlook of the country and we believe that this will make Thailand a more attractive investment destination,'' said Colin Ng, the director and head for Asia ex-Japan of equities for UOB Asset Management based in Singapore.
Tourism executives offered mixed views about Sunday's vote, saying the country needed strong leaders regardless of which party formed the next government. The composition of the cabinet was a more critical factor than whether the People Power Party or the Democrat Party formed the coalition, said Anake Srishevachart, the president of the Thai-Japan Tourism Association.
Political stability is key for the country to reinvigorate the overall economy and regain local and foreign confidence to attract investment, say executives in the property industry.
The People Power party (PPP) last night fell short of a majority of the 480 house seats, and called for help in forming a stable coalition government.
Eighteen people, most of them elderly, were yesterday arrested for tearing their ballot papers.
Key leaders of many smaller political parties appeared disappointed at the expected results of the election, which saw most of them fall short of their aims.
Santi Wilassakdanon, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, believes that political turmoil would grip the country again if People Power party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej was made the next prime minister, as anti-Thaksin groups might resume their political campaign against the PPP.
Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has congratulated Samak Sundaravej, who took the People Power party (PPP) to victory at the election.
Puea Pandin party leader Suvit Khunkitti and Matchimathipataya party leader Prachai Leophairatana are unlikely to make it to parliament.
The outcome of the general election has indicated Thailand will have a political system dominated by two major opposing parties, said Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, the rector of the National Institute for Development Administration (Nida).
The general election went smoothly with a voter turnout of at least 70%, and while some candidates may be disqualified their numbers will be limited, according to election commissioners.
The election was not only about political parties competing for parliamentary seats, it was also about the reputation of two of the country's most respected poll agencies and the accuracy of their exit polls.
The Democrat party swept nearly all 56 seats in the southern provinces, losing only six to the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties in the three restive border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
Nearly 64%, or 2.63 million, of the 4.13 million eligible voters in Bangkok, went to the polls in the post-coup election yesterday, where the Democrats won a majority of 36 seats.
The People Power party (PPP) won substantial support in the North and Northeast where people still favour the populist policies of the now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai party.
Most of those involved in poll fraud will escape punishment by the Election Commission (EC) because of a lack of evidence, according to the independent group People's Network for Elections in Thailand (P-Net).
Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas yesterday reminded politicians to keep their word by accepting the outcome of the general election.
After two months of solid campaigns from North to South and East to West and promises by political parties, today it is the turn of voters to decide who should run the country.
Today, the people of Thailand go to the polls to vote for their favourite politicians and parties that will form the next government. Voter turnout is expected to be exceptionally high as a result of the political tensions over the past couple of years, and the intensity of the race in this particular election. Economics and politics have been in the doldrums, and there is much hope that things will take a turn for the better.
Thirty-six years ago Ma Yee, an ethnic Mon refugee from Burma, first applied for Thai citizenship. She was 17. Now she has a chance to exercise one of her most important rights _ the right to vote.
Security officers yesterday arrested five suspected insurgents who were reportedly plotting attack during today's election. In Narathiwat, 150 officers raided Ban Salo village in Rueso district after being informed that members of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) militant group were hiding there and plotting attacks.
The country's first election since the military coup will be closely watched by international observers whose main worry is centred on fairness for contesting parties.
In an effort to curb vote buying and the influence of political canvassers, an election officer in Kanchanaburi has adopted a more unconventional approach to the problem. Choochart Krutjaikla, the Kanchanaburi election office's campaigning officer, has used a poem, music and eye-catching billboard designs to challenge voters to consider the impact of vote buying.
A group of young professionals have launched the first online database containing everything you want to know about Thai politicians and political parties. Project leader Charoenchai Chaipiboolwong, of the Siam Intelligence Unit, said the Thailand Political Base website (www.politicalbase.in.th) would become one of the practical tools for people to monitor political figures as well as check on backgrounds and policy platforms of political parties.
Political parties contesting the election in the eastern province of Rayong have no environmental platforms to deal with the pollution and the excessive growth of industries there, said a coordinator of the Eastern Community Network. Sutthi Atchasai said since the election campaign started almost two months ago, he has never seen or heard of any party having an environment policy for Rayong.
Thousands of people in this southern province will have to wade through floodwaters or travel by boat to cast their ballots today as officials have relocated 46 flooded polling stations in three districts to nearby highways. Many sections of the region's inter-provincial roads have been converted into makeshift polling stations as flood levels remain high in many areas in Pattani, especially in Nong Chik, Yarang, and Muang districts. Muang district has been hardest hit, said Pattani election commission chairman Wirawat La-eard.
The People Power party (PPP) and its arch rival the Democrat party sent alternative messages during their final campaign rallies last night as voters prepared for the polls tomorrow.
Bad luck struck the Chart Thai party again yesterday when its leader's wife, Khunying Jaemsai Silpa-archa, walked into a suggestion box and cut her head during the last leg of the party's election campaign tour in Suphan Buri's U Thong district.
Electoral fraud has been widespread in the run-up to the polls and officials should have enough evidence to disqualify at least 20 candidates after tomorrow's voting, the Election Commission (EC) said yesterday. EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said electoral fraud had been extensive and that the commission had received over 1,000 vote-buying complaints and was determined to collect as much evidence as possible. Collected evidence included cash ranging from 100 baht up to a million baht per case, he said.
Democrat canvasser-turned-New Aspiration party candidate Jo-uma Samoe has run a self-funded election campaign, and hopes to enter the House of Representatives with sympathy votes. After more than a decade acting as a Democrat canvasser in Pattani, Mr Jo-uma, 49, decided it was time to jump into the parliamentary race.
Phetchaburi _ Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra may be an idol for many People Power party (PPP) candidates, but not Piya Angkinant. The six-time MP in the central province of Phetchaburi has avoided mentioning his name during his campaign, saying it could pose a threat to his election hopes.
The Election Commission's (EC) battle to stamp out vote buying has fallen short, say many grassroots activists, who have accused politicians linked to the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party of using local administration organisations to buy votes for their new political allies. Authorities have placed a lot of emphasis on controlling suspected vote buying in former Thai Rak Thai strongholds in the Northeast such as Buri Ram.
Buri Ram _ Internal conflicts within the Chidchob family could shape the outcome of the polls in this northeastern province, a political stronghold of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party. In the 2005 polls, when then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was at the pinnacle of his power, his TRT made a clean sweep of the seats here and the credit for the landslide went to Newin Chidchob.
Two days from polling day and it's still far from clear whether the Democrats or the People Power party (PPP) will get the first chance to form the next government. But one thing is sure - the election is not a magic pill that will solve all the problems plaguing the country.
The People Power party (PPP) may suffer a crushing defeat in zone 5, which comprises provinces where voters gave the Thai Rak Thai party (TRT) a victory two years ago.
Bangkok voters are a dominant force, always commanding the attention of political parties during an election.
The spread of former Thai Rak Thai (TRT) MPs across a number of parties means constituency seats in this provincial cluster will likely be shared between the pro-Thaksin People Power party (PPP) and other parties that have adopted the former TRT politicians.
The People Power party (PPP) is hoping to take most of the 50 constituency seats and the lion's share of the proportional representation vote in zone 1, which comprises 11 northernmost provinces.
With 48 constituency seats at stake in zone 7, which covers 15 provinces of the Central Plains and the upper South, the Democrat party looks well placed to improve its standing in five key provinces, observers say.
The People Power party (PPP) is likely to win the party-list vote in zones 3 and 4, comprising 16 provinces in the Northeast, but will not dominate the region in the way the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party did in the 2005 election.
The Democrat party's dominance in the upper South is expected to continue, but its fortunes could fade in the southernmost provinces where the likely outcome in about half the 12 seats in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala is far from clear.
The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday dismissed a complaint filed by candidates from the New Aspiration and Pracharaj parties asking the court to nullify advance voting held last weekend, and cancel the general election.
Suphan Buri _ Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa has responded cautiously to an invitation by Democrat chief Abhisit Vejjajiva to join him in a coalition government, saying the time was not right to talk about the offer with an election pending.
Abac Poll has been given permission to conduct exit polls at voting stations on Sunday.
Songsak Thongsri told Bangkok Post reporter Supawadee Inthawong that he has no fears about filling the shoes of his cousin, banned Thai Rak Thai executive Newin Chidchob, in heading the People Power party's campaign in the Northeast.
The Interior Ministry has sought approval from the Election Commission (EC) to organise special transport for people in flooded areas in the deep South to make sure they can get to polling stations to vote in Sunday's election.
Nakhon Ratchasima _ Farmer Somjai and his wife Khammoon Khamtha have been taking a radio with them to the rice fields each day for the last two months.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva reaffirmed his political alliance with Banharn Silpa-archa yesterday by announcing his party's intention to team up with Chart Thai to form the next government after the election.
The military-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) shrugged off further protests calling for it to cease passing new legislation yesterday, approving controversial bills to give three state universities autonomous status.
Buddhist monks not only dedicate themselves to religious activities, but also to various aspects of community development and education.
Ubon Ratchathani - Disillusioned villagers affected by the Pak Moon dam have lost all faith in parliamentary democracy, saying it fails to produce politicians who truly understand their grievances, community leaders said.
Thais living overseas have showed enthusiasm for the election with a high turnout in advance voting in 65 countries.
The Election Commission will not red-card any candidates before Sunday's election, fearing skulduggery by political parties trying to gain the upper hand over their rivals.
The recent appearance of Panthongtae "Oak" Shinawatra, son of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on the election rounds of People Power party (PPP) candidates came as a surprise to political observers.
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva suffered a string of mishaps yesterday, having to change several cars during election campaigning, only hours after he escaped unhurt from a car accident.
Political leaders will gather at the Centara Hotel in the CentralWorld shopping complex today for a debate organised by the Bangkok Post and its associates on economic issues in the run-up to the Dec 23 general election.
The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) has insinuated that a smoke grenade ''attack'' on a People Power party (PPP) campaign centre in Lat Phrao on Monday night was a set-up.
Phangnga _ A Brazilian fortune teller's prediction of a tsunami-inducing earthquake this coming Sunday has got locals so spooked that a seafront polling station in Takua Pa district has been forced to be relocated to higher ground.
Nakhon Ratchasima _ The election is a family business in this northeastern province where several former Thai Rak Thai MPs serving a five year ban from politics are fielding their wives, children or brothers in their stead.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has given assurances that he will not use the military as a political tool if his party is elected to government.
Chiang Rai _ Amid calls for increased participation by women in politics, voters in Chiang Rai's constituency 2 find there are six women candidates vying for their support on Sunday. There are 33 candidates for the three House seats in the constituency, which covers nine districts.
Key figures in the Council for National Security (CNS) and the Royal Thai Police Office are moving into Chiang Rai, a stronghold of the People Power party, to observe the security situation in amid growing complaints of intimidation of election candidates.
In some localities of Chanthaburi there are canvassers who have found an unusual way of boosting the election chances of certain candidates in the province.
The Election Commission has denied allegations that the record turnout of nearly three million voters in advance voting over the weekend was fixed.
First-time voters going to cast early ballots over the weekend said they were eager to take part even though many said say they have little faith in Thai politics.
Former senator Chaowarin Latthasaksiri says he was asked by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to join the People Power party (PPP).
anista Liewchalermwong, a former Bangkok MP and Chart Thai party candidate, is pinning her hopes on a last-minute swing in her favour by as yet uncommitted voters in Don Muang.
Police are considering possible criminal charges against former senator Jon Ungphakorn and activists who stormed parliament last week in a bid to force the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to stop passing laws.
Samut Sakhon _ Candidates contesting the three House seats here have so far chosen not to explain their positions on migrant labour, fearing it could hurt their election chances, according to a local aid worker.
Chanthaburi _ Somsong Bupphachart, 42, a noodle shop owner in the border market in tambon Ban Laem of Pong Nam Ron district, is looking forward to Sunday's election in the expectation the new government will give her struggling business a boost.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and his main rival Samak Sundaravej of the People Power party (PPP) both declared themselves ready and able to be prime minister yesterday.
The high voter turnout in two days of advance voting was far from spontaneous and may have been organised beforehand, political analysts said.
As a seven-time MP for Chiang Rai, Mongkol ''Sia Lek'' Jongsutthamanee is a big name in politics in the northern province.
Fourteen kilogrammes of high-grade heroin smuggled into Chiang Rai was seized in Phrae yesterday, with the money from the sale of the drug allegedly going to be used in electoral fraud schemes.
Election candidates in the Northeast lack knowledge of native rice varieties grown by Isan farmers.
Ayutthaya _ Voters from the Northeast working in this central province flocked to cast ballots in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya district yesterday, but many said they had only limited information about the candidates they voted for.
All major political parties aim to use transport infrastructure, in particular Bangkok mass transit, to revitalise the shrinking construction sector, though they differ on how to pay for and manage the systems.
Mingkwan Sangsuwan pulls back in mock horror. ''Don't call me a public relations man. And I'm not a marketing man. I'm a strategy man,'' he says with a grin.
Almost a million voters turned out across the country yesterday to cast advance votes for the general election, defying earlier speculation of public apathy towards the long-awaited polls.
The discussion room was almost empty. A visitor who dropped by for a political discussion thought she was at the wrong place or the event had been cancelled.
An influential kamnan with solid connections to the old power circles is missing after a suspicious boat crash in the Mekong river on Friday, raising concerns about rising tensions and possible confrontations in the province as election day draws closer.
From an acid-tongued social critic of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Somkiat Pongpaiboon became known as one of the leaders of street demonstrations against then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra before entering politics as a proportional representation candidate under the Democrat party. He talks to SUPAWADEE INTHAWONG about his inspiration and his role as a politician for the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.
More than 200 people in tambon Charoenpon in Banphot Phisai district have volunteered to campaign to encourage people to vote and uncover poll fraud in the run-up to the general election next Sunday. Manit Sukki, chief of the Charoenpon tambon administration organisation, said volunteers have been deployed at roadblocks set up on roads entering the sub-district.
Sixteen MP seats in Nakhon Ratchasima look likely to be shared among the major parties contesting the province with the second highest number of constituencies. The province, dominated by the defunct Chart Pattana party for 15 years, is witnessing a multi-party contest in the run-up to next Sunday's general election.
The Chart Thai party has set itself a modest goal of winning just two out of the 12 constituency seats up for grabs in the Democrat-dominated southern border provinces. Chart Thai candidate Kuheng Yaworhasan said he had dashed the Democrats' dream of making a clean sweep of all 12 House constituency seats in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala in the 2005 election, as he managed to snatch one seat.
The People Power party's (PPP) vow to bring back ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra is not the party's selling point in Samut Sakhon, where the PPP is thought unlikely to win by a landslide. In the 2005 election, Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party snatched all three parliamentary seats in this small, densely populated province from the Democrat party, which won two seats at the 2001 poll.
Almost 80% of Thai voters in 20 countries have cast their ballots in the advance voting, which ends tomorrow. The turnout is far higher than in the previous election in which only 30% of expatriate Thais voted in advance.
The People Power party (PPP) extended its lead in the final week of the Post Poll, an internet survey of voters' views for the Dec 23 election. The PPP obtained altogether 52.05% while the Democrat party scored 40.74%.
This month's general election and the formation of a new government will not solve the country's prolonged social and political problems unless people at the grassroots level are empowered and given a fairer economic and political share, according to well-known political scientist Seksan Prasertkul.
Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday kicked off an anti-vote buying campaign in Chiang Mai, the political bastion of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party. Gen Sonthi, chairman of the government committee fighting vote buying, praised all agencies and the public for their cooperation in campaigning against poll fraud and other forms of election law violations.
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday renewed his challenge to People Power party leader Samak Sundaravej to join him in a public debate on their election platforms, saying Mr Samak should not be afraid of facing him before a live audience. Mr Abhisit made his fresh challenge after the People's Network for Elections (P-Net) invited the two party leaders _ who are most likely to vie for the premiership after the general election _ to join a policy debate to be broadcast live on television Channels 9 and 11.
Parent networks and education experts have questioned the free education policies declared by all the country's political parties which they say pay little attention to upgrading education quality. Free education plus free study materials have become part and parcel of the populist policies launched by every political party, they said at a seminar yesterday.
Embattled Matchimathipataya leader Prachai Leophairatana has shown how confident he is of winning a parliamentary seat in the election as he has sold his entire stake in TPI Polene Plc (TPIPL), preparing for an asset declaration as required by law.
With limited financial support, the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana party has opted for a careful marketing strategy to get its candidates into parliament.
No alcohol will be on sale or served at any event across the country from 6pm today until midnight on Sunday as voters cast advance ballots this weekend for the general election.
Two actors are hopeful of winning seats in northeastern Chaiyaphum province, but former MPs from the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party (TRT) insist they are not worried by their challenge.
A Democrat candidate for Ratchaburi has been banned from politics for 10 years for buying votes during the 2001 general election.
Narathiwat — Heavyweight candidates from the People Power party (PPP) are likely to be defeated in the Dec 23 poll in the three southernmost provinces, where the Democrat party won almost all the seats at the previous election in 2005.
Phrae — Democrat candidates are seen to be fighting an uphill battle in this northern province as their arch-rivals from the People Power party (PPP) appear to have won over local voters with a promise to bring back deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday deferred until next week its ruling on vote-buying allegations against three People Power party (PPP) candidates in constituency 3 of Nakhon Ratchasima province.
Pattani — Election candidates in the three strife-torn border provinces say they would find a way to amend the much-criticised security bill if it is passed into law.
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