Puea Thai wins by a landslide
Bhumjaithai receives a lesson in humility
- Published: 22/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
The Puea Thai Party has ridden to a major victory in the Sakon Nakhon by-election on the back of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Bhumjaithai Party leader Chavarat Charnvirakul, centre, and other key party members show their disappointment after their party was trounced in the Sakon Nakhon by-election. CHANAT KATANYU
The rival Bhumjaithai Party was humbled before the popularity of the former prime minister in the northeastern province yesterday.
Just 90 minutes after counting began at 4pm, with Puea Thai candidate Anurak Boonson ahead with a healthy lead over rival Pitak Chansri, Bhumjaithai Party leader Chavarat Charnvirakul called a press conference to concede defeat.
The unofficial results released last night after all votes were counted showed Mrs Anurak sweeping all five districts in Constituency 3, winning 103,277 votes to 47,300 votes for Mr Pitak.
"I accept that Thaksin's phone-in addresses to those kamnans, village heads and community leaders played a crucial role in helping Puea Thai win today's election," Mr Chavarat was quoted by Thai News Agency as saying well before all votes were counted.
Thaksin addressed supporters in Sakon Nakhon's Ban Muang, Charoen Sin, Kham Ta Kla, Sawang Daen Din and Song Dao districts by telephone during the campaign.
"Thaksin fever is what we cannot do anything about," Bhumjaithai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said. "They've tried to convince the voters Thaksin is the real leader of Puea Thai."
TNA said Bhumjaithai had lodged a complaint against Thaksin's involvement in Puea Thai's campaign.
A defiant Bhumjaithai deputy leader Boonjong Wongtrairat was quoted as saying the results of this by-election did not guarantee victories for Puea Thai over Bhumjaithai.
Anurak Boonson of the Puea Thai Party celebrates her victory. CHANAT KATANYU
"This election is neither a benchmark for the result of every election to come in Isan [Northeast provinces] or a gauge of any party's popularity in this region," Mr Boonjong said.
"This is just the beginning and we have to work harder [to win]."
Chalerm Yubamrung, a key Puea Thai figure, was quick to claim yesterday's victory over Bhumjaithai.
He announced his party had won just 30 minutes after the counting had begun. But he conceded the by-election was a tougher fight than in past elections.
Mr Chalerm, who led the Puea Thai campaign in the by-election, said his party had won because northeasterners still love Thaksin and his efforts to resolve poverty in the region when he was prime minister. The Bangkok MP expected Puea Thai to win any poll it contests pushing the Thaksin issue.
"Yes, of course ... I've always said the people still love Thaksin. This is a victory of the people and it will show the world that the people still love Thaksin," he said when asked about the implications of the outcome yesterday.
Puea Thai will come up against the Chart Thai Pattana Party next, in a Si Sa Ket by-election being held this coming weekend.
Mrs Anurak said Thaksin had called to congratulate her since before the vote count began.
Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said the Sakon Nakhon by-election was satisfactory.
He said the estimated turnout was between 60% and 70% and his office had received only seven complaints.
Most of the complaints concerned the illegal transportation of voters to the polling booths in the advance vote last weekend and the EC expects to conclude its investigations within a month.
The EC should be able to endorse the Sakon Nakhon by-election within a week.
Meanwhile, about 11,100 voters turned out yesterday in Si Sa Ket to cast their vote in the advance vote before the by-election in Constituency 1 this coming Sunday.
Leaflets containing messages attacking Bhumjaithai's de facto leader, Newin Chidchob, as betraying Thaksin were reported to have been disseminated in areas of the constituency.
A similar tactic was used in Sakon Nakhon before the lead-up to that by-election.
About the author
- Writer: AEKARACH SATTABURUTH
