Kanchanaburi: The Kanchanaburi District 4 by-election is 90% complete. Wisuda from Bhumjaithai Party is leading in votes. Anutin appeared to hear the results, while the deputy party leader announced victory.
According to Thai News Agency, since the polls closed at 5:00 PM, many polling stations have been counting ballots, completing the process before they are gradually handed over to district offices and finally to the administration center inside the Lao Khwan District Office, where officials have been preparing to receive ballot boxes since the afternoon.
Mr. Sawaeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC), commented on today’s election, stating that the overall election was smooth and the voter turnout met the target of 60%. He noted that there were some complaints about the food provided, which may be considered illegal, and these are currently being investigated. He also received information from provincial EC offices regarding improvements to the vote-counting system, which will facilitate access to the count and provide real-time results to enhance transparency. This system will also be implemented in the next election.
As of now, scores from multiple polling stations have been tallied. Ms. Wisuda Wichiensin, the No. 1 candidate from the Bhumjaithai Party, is leading. At the residence of Mr. Sakda Wichiensin, Deputy Minister of the Interior and father of the No. 1 candidate, the atmosphere was tense. Both the candidates themselves and their supporters gathered to listen to the results together. A live count of votes from both candidates from each polling station was displayed. The highlight, however, was the appearance of Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, who also attended the results.
The deputy leader of the Bhumjaithai Party recently announced victory, as the vote count had reached 90%, with Ms. Wisuda leading the No. 2 candidate, General Shinawatra, by nearly 20,000 votes.
Meanwhile, on the side of No. 2, General Chinnawat Mandej, a candidate from the Pheu Thai Party, reporters visited his residence this evening and found General Chinnawat preparing to go out. He declined to give an interview, saying only briefly that he would be back soon, but there has been no further developments since then.