Bangkok Post : Panich claims victory in hotly contested by-election

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Panich claims victory in hotly contested by-election

Published: 26/07/2010 at 12:28 AM
Online news: Local News

The Democrat Party's Panich Vikitsreth has clinched a narrow victory over his rival in the by-election in Bangkok's Constituency 6.

Democrat Party candidate Panich Vikitsreth, hands held high, celebrates after learning of his victory yesterday in the by-election in Bangkok’s Constituency 6. THITI WONNAMONTHA

Mr Panich yesterday managed to retain the parliamentary seat for the Democrats, which was left vacant following the death of cancer on June 11 of Thiwa Ngernyuang.

The Democrat candidate won more than 96,000 votes, beating his rival, Korkaew Pikulthong of the Puea Thai Party, by almost 15,000 votes at the end of counting in the constituency's four districts of Bung Khum, Kannayao, Nong Chok and Klong Sam Wa.

Unofficial voting results showed Mr Panich with 96,480 votes, against 81,776 for Mr Korkaew.

The turnout for the by-election was 49.55 per cent — 191,598 votes out of 386,660 eligible voters.

Mr Panich said he considered the result a landslide victory and said the by-election was an affirmation that democracy had now returned to the country.

He was speaking at the Democrat Party headquarters after he learned of his clear lead ahead of his contenders on Sunday.

Prime Minister and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was on holiday with his family on Koh Samet in Rayong, telephoned to congratulate Mr Panich.

Mr Panich said the state of emergency did not have any bearing on the by-election. Every contender had been able to run their campaign under the same regulations, he said.

Mr Panich said Puea Thai should have fielded a candidate who could travel and meet voters. Puea Thai had opted for Mr Korkaew who is being held at Bangkok Remand Prison on a terrorism charge related to violence during the red shirt protests from March to May.

Wicharn Meenchainant, who was in charge of running the Puea Thai Party's campaign in the by-election, conceded defeat after learning the unofficial results.

Mr Wicharn said the emergency rule, which remains in force, was partly to blame for his party's defeat.

Mr Wicharn claimed the by-election was tainted with electoral fraud.

He also accused the government of using state media to attack Puea Thai in the lead-up to the by-election.

He said on Saturday a host of a radio show on 103FM run by the Public Relations Department attacked Puea Thai for being involved in the political violence in May. Mr Wicharn criticised the Election Commission for not doing enough to inform the public of the by-election.

He also said he disagreed with the scheduling of the election which coincided with the long public holiday.

Political scientist Anek Laothammathat said Mr Panich's narrow victory over Mr Korkaew had shown the middle class were not enthusiastic about the by-election.

They had preconceptions about who would win the poll, so they did not bother to turn up to vote, Mr Anek said, adding that voters were mostly supporters of the Puea Thai and Democrat parties.

Ramkhamhaeng University political science dean Wutthisak Larpcharoenpol said the candidates of the two main parties were not outstanding enough to draw voters.

He said Mr Panich's narrow victory showed that Puea Thai's support base in Bangkok remained strong.

Election commissioner Prapun Naigowit said the EC would hold a meeting to endorse Mr Panich's election within seven days if there were no complaints of electoral fraud.

Number crunching A state official, above, adds up the votes in yesterday’s byelection in Bangkok’s Constituency 6 as red shirt supporters, down, watch to make sure nothing is amiss. The unofficial result showed red shirt leader and Puea Thai Party candidate Korkaew Pikulthong losing to Democrat Party candidate Panich Vikitsreth. PHOTOS BY PATIPAT JANTHONG

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Toxin

Discussion 34 : 27/07/2010 at 02:39 AM34
It doesn't take a rocket scientist (or a litmus test via by-elections) to recognize the fact that Peuah Thai will win the national elections even without a party leader.

With Thaksin as the de facto leader, that is all that matters. That's democracy for you.

Let's just have the elections and get it over with.
Ai

Discussion 33 : 27/07/2010 at 01:46 AM33
There is life after elections, so one mustn't forget about it too.
Don D.

Discussion 32 : 27/07/2010 at 01:37 AM32
if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck....

which group has the history?
Whatever

Discussion 31 : 26/07/2010 at 07:11 PM31
Wake up #25, you should look up the definition of the word cult "a cohesive group of people devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be outside the mainstream"
Since the Reds have greater support throughout the country than the government they can hardly be considered a cult san they? The PAD with 1.7% support and with fanatical views, could definately be considered a cult.
Lenen

Discussion 30 : 26/07/2010 at 04:31 PM30
Chalk up another victory given by the PAD. If they had kept their candidate in the race and split the democratic vote guess who would have won. Yes the PAD always seems to be helping the Democrats.
M.Mouse

Discussion 29 : 26/07/2010 at 04:04 PM29
Wake up doesn't seem to understand democracy means people vote for who THEY want NOT who YOU want.
boon

Discussion 28 : 26/07/2010 at 03:45 PM28
There is nothing much for the Dem to rejoice other then the fact that they retained the seat. For the opposition, I think they can forget about an early election because the result of this election is worrying the Dem even though they do not admit their concerned. The opposition should change their tactics in fighting for democracy, justice and freedom.
xantia

Discussion 27 : 26/07/2010 at 03:41 PM27
Not good news for Democrats for sure. Think that 42% is exactly the same than previous election in this area, that percentage didn't change. That clearly shows that the Reds are still alive with the same numbers of voters. 42% are voting for someone charged for terrorism while the government candidat get 53% ! What a ridiculous victory for those who were pretending to stopped Reds and enjoy your "reconciliation" plan with yourself.
SAmmy

Discussion 26 : 26/07/2010 at 03:08 PM26
Does this mean there are 81,776 terrorist supporters in District 6 alone? This is very scary.
WakeUp

Discussion 25 : 26/07/2010 at 02:37 PM25
The PTP reds are cultists, they will vote for PTP as long as there is a PTP in any election, regardless of policy, track record or even criminal record. That's not democracy - not by a long shot.

1 2 3 4 Next Last

Toxin

Discussion 34 : 27/07/2010 at 02:39 AM34

It doesn't take a rocket scientist (or a litmus test via by-elections) to recognize the fact that Peuah Thai will win the national elections even without a party leader.

With Thaksin as the de facto leader, that is all that matters. That's democracy for you.

Let's just have the elections and get it over with.

Discussion 33 : 27/07/2010 at 01:46 AM33

There is life after elections, so one mustn't forget about it too.

Don D.

Discussion 32 : 27/07/2010 at 01:37 AM32

if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck....

which group has the history?

Whatever

Discussion 31 : 26/07/2010 at 07:11 PM31

Wake up #25, you should look up the definition of the word cult "a cohesive group of people devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be outside the mainstream"
Since the Reds have greater support throughout the country than the government they can hardly be considered a cult san they? The PAD with 1.7% support and with fanatical views, could definately be considered a cult.

Lenen

Discussion 30 : 26/07/2010 at 04:31 PM30

Chalk up another victory given by the PAD. If they had kept their candidate in the race and split the democratic vote guess who would have won. Yes the PAD always seems to be helping the Democrats.

M.Mouse

Discussion 29 : 26/07/2010 at 04:04 PM29

Wake up doesn't seem to understand democracy means people vote for who THEY want NOT who YOU want.

boon

Discussion 28 : 26/07/2010 at 03:45 PM28

There is nothing much for the Dem to rejoice other then the fact that they retained the seat. For the opposition, I think they can forget about an early election because the result of this election is worrying the Dem even though they do not admit their concerned. The opposition should change their tactics in fighting for democracy, justice and freedom.

xantia

Discussion 27 : 26/07/2010 at 03:41 PM27

Not good news for Democrats for sure. Think that 42% is exactly the same than previous election in this area, that percentage didn't change. That clearly shows that the Reds are still alive with the same numbers of voters. 42% are voting for someone charged for terrorism while the government candidat get 53% ! What a ridiculous victory for those who were pretending to stopped Reds and enjoy your "reconciliation" plan with yourself.

SAmmy

Discussion 26 : 26/07/2010 at 03:08 PM26

Does this mean there are 81,776 terrorist supporters in District 6 alone? This is very scary.

WakeUp

Discussion 25 : 26/07/2010 at 02:37 PM25

The PTP reds are cultists, they will vote for PTP as long as there is a PTP in any election, regardless of policy, track record or even criminal record. That's not democracy - not by a long shot.

Bangkok Post : Panich claims victory in hotly contested by-election

Panich claims victory in hotly contested by-election

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