As of 7.30pm yesterday, the Democrats had won all seats in 20 of 36 districts that had elections. The Thai Rak Thai took all seats in seven districts while an independent team won in Bang Sue district, she said.

The remaining districts contested yesterday - 14 districts had elections in April, with Thai Rak Thai gaining all seats in 10 and the Democrats in two - have a mixture of successful candidates from different teams.

Yesterday's elections were for 57 Bangkok Council seats in 50 districts, and district council seats in 36 districts. Each constituency has one or two Bangkok councillors and seven or eight district councillors, depending on the population.

Democrat candidates won three Bangkok Council seats including Samphanthawong, Thawee Wat-thana and Sai Mai constituency 2, with ballots still being counted in the other constituencies.

Thai Rak Thai candidates won in Saphan Sung, Lat Krabang and Sai Mai constituency 1.

The Bangkok election is seen as a test of the popularity of the government and opposition parties. Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the results of the local elections would be linked to the October general election. However, he said the outcome in Bangkok wouldn't be enough to predict the winner of the national election.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the factors in people's voting decisions in the local and national elections were different.

Supon Thanukrit,

Jeerawan Prasomsap

The Nation