Constituency-based candidate registration begins

At the stadium of the Thai-Japanese Youth Centre, Leen Janjanya and her supporters was the first group to arrive at the stadium at 5:30 am to protest that the Matchima Thipataya refused to field her as a candidate.

She said if the party refused to field her in the contest, she would make a public a document that could tarnish the reputation of party leader Leophairatana.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva led his party candidates to the stadium at 6:00 am.

A lot of supporters and reporters, who were waiting there, rushed to surround Abhisit and talk to him once he arrived.

Din Daeng police station's deputy traffic police chief Pol Lt Col Somphote Thassana said he expected traffic congestin on Din Daeng Road so vehicles would not be allowed to park on the road from 6 am to noon.

Chart Thai Party deputy leader Korn Dabaransi also arrived at the stadium at about 6 am. He is flanked by Paveena Hongsakul, who leads the team of Chart Thai candidates to apply.

Paveena said she expected that the Chart Thai would win in Bangkok's Constituency 5, which comprises Sai Mai and Don Meung districts where she run along with Janista Liewchalermwong and Chamadol Hongsakul.

All parties, which submited applications before 8:30 am, had to draw lot for candidacy numbers in each of the 12 constituenices. Initilaly, political parties initially agreed to adopt the same number for each of them in all constituencies but the EC said there would be technicality problems.

People Power leader Samak Sundaravej led party candidates to the Thai-Japanese Stadium at 7 am.

His candidates include Chalerm Yoobamrung, Yuranan Phamornmontreee, Danuporn Punnakan, Leelawadee Watcharobol, Chalermchai Mahakijsiri, Watana Sengphairoj and Arisman Pongruangrong.

At Nakhon Ratchasima provincial hall, the New Aspiration Party and People Power Party arrived very early with a lot of supporters, who sang and played the long drums.

In Chiang Mai, the registration is carried out at the Chiang Mai Municipality Stadium.

People Power's candidate Surapong Towichakchaikul stunned other candidates by arriving with a man wearing the face mask depicting former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Surapong said he was accompanied by Thaksin to apply. But Surapong later said he met the man by chance at the stadium.

Chart Thai's candidate Charinrat Phutpuan became the first candidate to apply in Chiang Mai.

In Chiang Rai, political parties came to the Rajabhat Chiang Rai University to apply before 8 am. Each party was backed up with over 1,000 supporters.

The Chart Thai apparently drew the biggest attention by having hilltribe people playing long drums as its supporters.

By 9:20 am, lot drawings to distribute candidacy numbers in Bangkok constituencies have been completed and supporters of the candidates with posters painted with the numbers started leaving the stadium to begin election campaigns.

In provinces with less constituencies, the lot drawings were completed sooner.

In Suphanburi, Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa got candidacy No when he applied for a House seat in Constituency 1.

His running mates - Warawu Silapa-arrcha and Natthawut Prasertsuwan - got NOs 2 and 3 respectively.

In Phichit, Sanan Kachornprasart registered his candidacy in Constituency 2 and got No 1.

Meanwhile, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana candidate Winai Phattaraprasit registered to run in Phichit's Constituency 1 and got No 1.

After learning the party's candidacy numbers, Samak alleged that the drafters of the current Constitution intended to undermine his party by making distribution of candidacy numbers too complicated.

Samak said the charter drafters feared that the People Power would win the election so they designed to have the candidacy numbers to be confused with one party getting several numbers.

"I dare to make my allegations here," Samak said.

In Khon Kaen, Puea Pandin Party leader Suwit Khunkitti got No 1 when he registered to run for a House seat in Khon Kaen's Constituency 3.

His two running mates - Mukda Pongsombat and Pathumrat Khunngern - got Nos 2 and 3 respectively.

The Nation