Democrats claim seat in red-shirt heartland
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The people spoke loud and clear in Sunday's two Pathum Thani elections, but their message may, unfortunately, further complicate the reconciliation process.
Pathum Thani is known as the backyard of the red-shirt movement. So the ruling Pheu Thai Party has to reflect on its shattering defeat both in the local poll as well as the by-election for a House seat in Constituency 5.
The Democrats should also reflect on the victory – whether it means they are gaining on the ruling party or whether it’s just an anomaly in the face of last year’s botched flood crisis.
Pheu Thai MP Sumeth Riddhagani appears to have miscalculated the loyalty of his constituents when he quit his House seat in order to contest a local race for the position of chairman of the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO).
The ruling party appeared indifferent to Sumeth’s decision and duly nominated Somchai Rangsiwattanasak for the by-election.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and a number of red-shirt leaders, including Jatuporn Promphan, joined Somchai in his campaigning.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and several ranking Democrats helped sway voting for their party’s candidate Kiattisak Songsaeng.
Kiattisak’s main campaign message was the Pheu Thai Party had treated Pathum Thani voters like dummies. He reminded voters about Sumeth’s poor performance in assisting flood victims.
After Sumeth vacated his House seat to seek a cushier job in the provincial administration, the ruling party had the audacity to endorse the candidacy of Somchai, whose sole qualification was being the husband of MP Pormpimol Thammasan from Constituency 3, he said.
The outcome was the Democrat defeated Somchai by a wide margin.
In the PAO race, incumbent chairman Chan Puangpetch won his re-election bid, outpacing Sumeth by more than 100,000 votes.
Although Chan ran as an independent, he is seen as an ally of veteran politician Newin Chidchob. He is also close to the Democrats.
The ruling party and its red allies conceded defeat but pinned the blame on candidates, dismissing speculation that the party’s popularity was sagging.
Red-shirt leader Thida Thawornseth said the two candidates were “lazy”, and thus failed to connect with constituents, including red shirts.
Pheu Thai leaders lashed out at Sumeth for rushing to contest the PAO race without a green light from the party.
Political commentators saw the outcome as the voters’ wrath at the ruling party’s mismanagement of last year’s flood crisis. Pathum Thani residents had to endure prolonged flooding as government leaders tried to save Bangkok from inundation.
The Democrats, meanwhile, won fair and square. But opposition lawmakers should be mindful that the turnout was low. Only about 30 per cent of voters cast ballots. This implies that the silent majority was disappointed at Pheu Thai but did not want to vote for the main opposition party.
The Pathum Thani elections also coincided with the reconciliation debate. The government has portrayed the Democrats as the bad guys for trying to block moves towards an amnesty. It claimed that the Opposition would suffer a backlash from voters for blocking reconciliation efforts.
But Sunday’s voting outcome has proved that prediction wrong. The Democrats seem to have made political traction in a bastion of the red shirts.
The Democrats have insisted on uncovering the truth behind the political disturbances in 2010 and a number of red shirts at the grass-roots level seem to agree although their leaders want to push for a blanket amnesty and a more speedy reconciliation process.
