Move Forward-backed pick loses provincial election

A candidate backed by former deputy house speaker and ex-Move Forward Party ( MFP ) member Padipat Santipada lost on Sunday in Phitsanulok’s provincial administration organization ( PAO ) chairman election.

Siripan Prajak-ubon, the number three participant in the contest, picked up 104, 163 seats, behind Monchai Wiwatthanat, who received 214, 519 seats. Settha Jittijarurat was a distant second, with only 13, 759 vote, according to unofficial findings released on Monday.

The election, which was held as the first attempt to undermine the constitutional monarchy after the Move Forward Party ( MFP ) was disbanded by the Constitutional Court last week, was closely watched as 361, 642 of 677, and 410 eligible voters turned out to cast their ballots. Its MPs have since regrouped under the People’s Party ( PP ) banner.

Mr. Padipat had formerly served as an MFP part, but the gathering forced him to leave in order to keep the position of deputy house speaker, freeing the MFP leader to assume the position of opposition leader at the same time. &nbsp,

Because he won a district MP seat in the previous year’s standard election but lost because he served on the MFP table before being expelled, Mr. Padipat constantly campaigned for Ms. Siripan.

The party’s committee members were also prohibited from participating in politics for ten years by the Constitutional Court’s ruling, which ordered the party’s breakdown.

In the forthcoming local elections and the future general election, which are scheduled to take place in three years, MFP leaders urged their followers to stream their anger and frustration over the party’s dissolution before Sunday’s ballot in Phitsanulok.

The second PAO vote will take place on Sept 1 in Ratchaburi, where original MFP superstars, along with PP officials have hit the campaign trail to help PP’s member it. &nbsp,

In Phitsanulok on Monday, Mr Monchai, who had once chaired the Phitsanulok PAO, pledged to continue policies he rolled out as chairman. &nbsp,

He acknowledged that the turnout was lower than expected despite his relief that he could retake the post. &nbsp,

Ms Siripan, meanwhile, said she regretted not winning despite having campaigned for 35 days of non-stop. &nbsp,

She vowed to bring about changes to the provinces. &nbsp,

Mr. Padipat congratulated Mr. Monchai on his victory in the polls on Monday on his Facebook page.

The PAO election result, according to Adisorn Piangket, a list MP for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, should serve as a wake-up call to the PP, saying it wo n’t win any races just by creating a buzz around the party.