Parties step up campaigning as vote nears
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During the last week before the by-election in Bangkok's Don Muang district, the Democrat Party will step up its door-to-door campaigning to get out its message to local residents that its candidate, Tankhun Jitt-itsara, has never abandoned them.
The party also plans to make inroads into military bases, known to be strongholds of the Pheu Thai Party, which, along with its forerunners, is the long-time champion in the constituency.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai is also campaigning door-to-door to promote its candidate, Yuranunt Pamornmontri, as well as its policies and projects.
Party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan, who is also interior minister, said party members would visit the area to meet residents, led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Charupong added that he would remain watchful for any signs of cheating.
On Friday, prominent Pheu Thai members will join a rally at Don Muang Technical College, he said.
Information and Communi-cations Technology Minister Gp Captain Anudith Nakornthap, speaking in his capacity as Pheu Thai’s Don Muang election director, said that in the final phase, the party would offer substantial policies to Don Muang residents.
Campaign policies
These include: steps to solve the traffic problems on Vibhavadi Road, improving Don Mueang Airport, encouraging construction of Rajavithi Hospital 2 and ensuring the quality and security of Don Muang residences.
“I believe that Yuranunt can coordinate all these policies,” Anudith said.
Phumtham Wechayachai, Pheu Thai secretary-general, said the reason for stepping up the campaign in the final phase isn’t that the party fears garnering fewer votes than its rival, but simply that the Pheu Thai never takes any election lightly, even in a stronghold like Don Muang.
“We have very limited time for this election,” said Phumtham, “so we need to gather everyone to run the campaign in order to inform local people in time.”
Democrat secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on, who is in charge of the by-election for the party, admitted the Democrat candidate is the underdog, although some opinion surveys indicated Tankhun was leading in terms of popularity.
Since Don Muang is considered a stronghold of Pheu Thai, the Democrat party has mobilised its Bangkok MPs, Bangkok councillors and district councillors to help the Tankhun campaign.
During the last week before the poll, mobile campaign units are moving in to hold small rallies at various communities to ask for support for Tankhun, Chalermchai said.
He said the Democrat has produced stickers with Tankhun’s nickname of Yi and the slogan of “Never abandon you” for handing out to Don Muang voters.
The stickers will be distributed in door-to-door campaigns to remind Don Muang residents that Tankhun stayed with them during the time of the flood crisis late 2010, although Tankhun was not an MP.
Chalermchai said the final week would be a crucial time for determining victory for the Democrat candidate.
Democrat campaign teams would hold small rallies at many spots both in the mornings and evenings, apart from door-to-door campaigns.
Cyber-space presence
The party also turned to social media to woo support for Tankhun, Chalermchai said.
The party will hold a mass rally on Friday at the Kosum Market – to be joined by leading Democrat MPs who will question the government’s economic performance, which the party says has led to higher costs of living.
The party will also inform voters that electing Tankhun, who is a Don Muang native,
would benefit them, the party secretary-general said.
He said residents of military bases constitute some 20 to 30 per cent of voters so the party would try to make an in-road to win support from military officers and their families in Don Muang.
He said the Democrats realised the military zones are political bases of the Pheu Thai, but the party would try its best.
“Although we are an underdog, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have a chance to win.
“So, I told everyone to try their best to convince Don Muang people that electing Tankhun as Don Muang MP would benefit them,” Chalermchai said.
