BANGKOK, June 17 – Opposition Democrat candidate Tankhun Chitt-issara won the by-election in Don Mueang constituency yesterday, edging out his contender from the ruling Pheu Thai party, Yuranant Pamornmontri, by more than 2,000 votes.
It was a historic victory for the Democrats, Thailand’s oldest political party, which has not carried the Don Mueang constituency in the last 37 years.
Mr Tankhun received 32,710 votes while Mr Yuranant won 30,624 votes in the by-election which saw a 61.18 per cent voter turnout.
A total of 108,495 residents were eligible to cast ballots and 66,375 exercised their right to vote.
The beaming Mr Tankhun thanked his Don Mueang supporters for their votes and said his obligations to the people in the constituency started immediately.
He will be accompanied by Democrat MPs and other party personalities today when he further expresses his appreciation to Don Mueang residents for their support.
Mr Yuranant who resigned as a Pheu Thai party-list MP to contest the election said he appreciated every vote, even though he failed to win the contest.
He said he had only 18 days for the election campaign while his rival has been working in the constituency for the last two years.
The Bangkok Election Commission will finalise the election results and forward them to the Central Election Commission for an official announcement within seven days.
The by-election was organised after Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul, a long-time Don Mueang MP, was suspended by the court from politics for five years.
