Dems swoop on Pareena’s House seat
The Democrat Party yesterday thanked the people of Chom Bung and Photharam districts for the votes that saw its candidate, Chaithip Kamolpanthip, win a seat in the House of Representatives.
He beat two rivals by a landslide in a by-election in Ratchaburi’s Constituency 3 on Saturday. Constituency 3 covers Chom Bung district and most of Photharam district.
In an unofficial result announced by the provincial election committee about 9pm, Mr Chaithip came first with 51,743 votes, leaving second-placed Natthanant Nithiponyangsanga of the Seri Ruam Thai Party trailing far behind on 16,853 votes. About 55% of the constituency’s 137,878 eligible voters turned out.
Hailing the result as beyond his expectations, Mr Chaithip vowed to perform the duties of an MP to the best of his ability. Democrat Party secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on was on hand to congratulate Mr Chaithip. Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit posted on his FB: “On behalf of the Democrat Party, I would like to thank the people of Chom Bung and Photharam for their votes for Mr Chaithip. The overwhelming vote for Mr Chaithip is a great moral booster for the party to serve the Ratchaburi people with persistence.”
The by-election was made necessary after Pareena Kraikupt of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) was banned from politics for life by the Supreme Court for misconduct as an MP for using 665 rai of forest reserve in Chom Bung district as a poultry farm. The PPRP did not field a candidate in the by-election.