Pheu Thai's candidate gets No 1 in by-election
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A Pheu Thai candidate on Monday obtained No 1 for his by-election campaign in Chiang Mai's Constituency 3 after Pheu Thai MP Chinnicha Wongsawat was disqualified for a false declaration of her assets.
Kasem Nimmonrat was given the number as he was the only one to apply to run in the election on the first day of application period, which ends this Friday. About 300 of Kasem’s supporters showed up at the venue.
The by-election is required following the disqualification of Chinnicha, the daughter of former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for a false declaration of her assets. She was also banned from politics for five years.
Chiang Mai’s election commission chairman Boonrat Wongyai said the application period on the first day was quiet possibly because of the rain.
Candidates from other parties have time until Friday to submit their applications. The chairman was confident that the campaign and the election set for June 2 in Chiang Mai would be peaceful, as in the past.
In the previous election, voters’ turnout in the province was 86 per cent so he expects the turnout to be not less than 70 per cent.
He also warned voters that the June 2 election falls on Saturday and not Sunday as is usually the case.
