The election of former auditor-general Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka as senator for Bangkok in nationwide polls yesterday shows voters are bidding to ward off the political influence of Thaksin Shinawatra in the capital, according to political experts.
Outgoing Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul told the Bangkok Post Khunying Jaruvan’s victory in the poll indicated tactical votes had won the day.
Although Khunying Jaruvan came under heavy fire on social media over her track record as auditor, she received more than half a million votes in yesterday’s unofficial poll result. She was a long way ahead of her strongest rival, Pol Maj Gen Pisal Pakdinaruenart, who garnered about 200,000 votes.
Ms Rosana said Bangkok voters rallied behind Khunying Jaruvan since she is a vocal opponent of former premier Thaksin.
She was a member of the now-defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee established by the 2006 coup makers to probe the wealth of politicians including Thaksin, who subsequently had assets worth 46 billion baht seized on the order of the Supreme Court.
The court ruled that Thaksin and his former wife, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra had acquired part of their wealth illegally.
Ms Rosana said Khunying Jaruvan also has a strong chance of being selected Senate speaker because she is well-liked by many elected and appointed senators.
In the middle of 2012, the government’s legal arm ruled that Khunying Jaruvan step down as auditor-general.
The dispute over the status of Khunying Jaruvan as auditor-general arose after several members of the Senate questioned whether she should have retired from her post in June, 2012, when she reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.
Elected senator Kamoon Sitthisamarn agreed Khunying Jaruvan was not without her weaknesses, but said her election as senator reflected Bangkok voters’ wish to stave off the political influence of the Thaksin regime.
He said he thought she could succeed as Senate speaker, arguing that her appointment would be a ‘watershed’ moment, since a speaker chosen during political crisis must perform significant duties, including nominating a neutral prime minister in the case of a political vacuum.
Mr Kamnoon said yesterday’s poll outcome was similar to the previous Bangkok governor race when the public handed victory to Democrat Party candidate MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra. It represented a strategic and tactical vote by Bangkok voters to keep out the candidate supported by Pheu Thai. ‘’It’s a symbolic vote, one that also expresses voters’ political mood and tone,’’ he said.
If the Senate election had taken place during calmer times, Mr Kamnoon said Khunying Jaruvan may not have won.
The senator said Senate poll wins in other provinces were linked to the dominance of political parties, especially Pheu Thai in the North and Northeast. He referred to the victory of Aporn Salakham, wife of Kwanchai Praipana and red-shirt leader in Udon Thani. Other winning candidates with links to political camps include Jongchai Thiangtham, Chartthaipattana’s former deputy secretary-general, for Suphan Buri; Waraporn Asavahame, niece of convicted ex-interior minister Vatana Asavahame, for Samut Prakan; and Adisorn Kamnerdsiri, former Chiang Mai deputy governor for Chiang Mai.
Voter turn-out in yesterday’s senate election was lower than the previous poll, according to the Election Commission.
EC member Somchai Srisuttiyakorn said unofficial figures showed the nationwide turnout was about 42.5%, or about 18.67 million people, while the previous election in 2008 registered the turnout of 55.6%.
He said the number of ‘’no vote” ballots exceeded 2.2 million, or about 11.8%, while the number of spoiled ballots was about 5.15%, or 960,000. About 48.7 million voters were eligible to vote.
Mr Somchai said the low turnout and high number of “no votes” were due to political chaos and that some candidates were little known.