PUBLISHED: 23 Sep 2024 at 11:04
In a significant political development, former chairman Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Toopkrajang has been re-elected as chair of the Pathum Thani Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) after a successful re-run of the annulled election. He decisively defeated rival Chan Puangpetch, receiving 187,975 votes compared to Chan’s 120,007, according to unofficial results released by local election officials.
This victory is particularly sweet for Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit, who narrowly lost the initial election in July by fewer than 2,000 votes. The Election Commission declared a re-run after alleging that Chan had breached election laws by sponsoring entertainment to garner support.
Expressing his gratitude, Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit thanked the residents of Pathum Thani for their support in a message on social media following his victory.
The election was seen as a crucial indicator of the Pheu Thai Party’s popularity in the region, even though both candidates campaigned independently of any party affiliation. In the previous July election, the ruling party backed Chan, but he distanced himself from Pheu Thai in this round, concerned that association could jeopardize his campaign’s success.
Despite his loyalty to Pheu Thai, Chan opted not to highlight the party during his campaign to avoid potential repercussions for both himself and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Kamronwit, who previously held the chairmanship of the Pathum Thani PAO before his July defeat, is now set to reassume his position, pending confirmation from election authorities. Voter turnout was relatively low, with less than half of the 953,302 eligible voters participating in the election.
