'Battle royal' headlines local pollsAgainst the backdrop of the Covid-19 outbreak in Samut Sakhon, people in the province and in other provinces, with the exception of Bangkok, went to the polls yesterday to elect chairpersons and Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) members. Charuchart later died in a motorcycle accident under suspicious circumstances in Chiang Mai province. Mr Jatuporn made clear that he didn't mind whether Mr Boonlert wins or loses in the election. Former Thammasat University lecturer Dr Likhit Likhitsomboon predicted that the Pheu Thai Party is likely to sustain substantial losses in these elections, noting that many of their local canvassers and politicians have been "sucked away" since the last coup. While it is natural for local politicians to bend with the wind and shift toward the powers-that-be that can assure state funding, the focus of the PAO elections was in Chiang Mai yesterday and was billed as a battle royal between Thaksin and Mr Jatuporn.

Source: Bangkok Post December 20, 2020 21:00 UTC