By-election results indicate clear, loud voice of voters

Voters have declared loud and clear that they cast ballots to advance their aspirations and not to let the legacy of one man cloud their judgement.

In spite of the provocative tactics by the red-shirt crowd and the campaigning-hype to idolise ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Pheu Thai Party won a mere five House seats of 13 previously held by its preceding party, the disbanded People Power.

It is noteworthy that of 10 seats up for grabs in the Northeast, Pheu Thai had a disappointing outcome in securing only four. The party also experienced an upset defeat in Lamphun, seen as Thaksin's backyard.

Its campaigning completely failed to win a single seat in Bangkok and the Central Region, even though Thaksin made a phone-in to a number of constituents four days before the voting.

Pheu Thai MP and campaign manager Chalerm Yoobamrung had made a modest projection of winning eight to ten seats. The actual outcome was lower than expected.

Pheu Thai won in Nakhon Phanom, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Udon Thani and Lampang.

Of its four seats secured in the Northeast, three were in constituencies located outside the turf of the Friends of Newin faction. The party managed to outpace the faction only in Udon Thani. It faced humiliating defeat in the faction's strongholds of Buri Ram and Si Sa Ket, which total four seats.

In the North, Pheu Thai candidate Sompoj Saithep had a narrow victory over Democrat Mathayom Niphakasem. Although Sompoj was leading by a wide margin throughout the race, he came close to losing on balloting day.

It was widely speculated that Pheu Thai ally Anusorn Wongwan, who is a barred Thai Rak Thai executive, made a last-minute switch to throw his support behind the Democrat. It remains unclear what prompted Anusorn to part ways with Thaksin.

In Lamphun, Democrat candidate Khayan Wiphromchai, a native son, declared victory over his Pheu Thai rival Phetchawat Watanapongsirikul.

Phetchawat was in a clear lead but faced an upset at the end. Pheu Thai bigwigs have tried to play down speculation that his defeat was due to his leadership of the red-shirt crowds.

But the fact is Phetchawat is a staunch ally of Thaksin, is the local leader of Thaksin's supporters and is prone to be provocative during protests.

He is seen as close to protesters who threw eggs at Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai who was on the campaign trial in Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lampang last week.

Pheu Thai bigwigs and Phetchawat might be in denial, but many see his loss as the voters' message of disapproval for unruly protest tactics.

For the race in the Central Region, Pheu Thai yielded a number of strongholds to the Democrat Party. The change-of-hand turf included Nakhon Pathom and Ratchaburi.

The party lost its decade-long domination in Ratchaburi. And its faction led by Chaiya Sasomsap appeared to have lost its clout by being defeated in the Nakhon Pathom vote.

The voting outcome shows starkly that Thaksin's popularity does not always translate into votes.

The party's link to the red-shirt crowds seems have alienated voters rather than being a boon at the voting stations.

While the opposition has suffered an unfavourable outcome, the Democrats have gained seven House seats from Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Lamphun, Sing Buri, Nakhon Pathom and Rachaburi.

The Pracharaj Party won a total of four House seats, one each from Pathum Thani and Buri Ram, and two from Si Sa Ket.

The party has designated itself as the opposition but its three MPs-elect from the Northeast are known to have the blessing of faction leader Newin Chidchob, who jumped ship to the Democrat-led coalition.

This has made tallying the number of opposition members complicated.

Puea Pandin Party won seats in Buri Ram, Ubon Ratchathani and Chachoengsao. All three seats will boost the coalition majority as the newly-elected MPs have been sponsored by three pro-coalition faction leaders, Newin, Pinij Charusombat and Suchart Tancharoen.

Chart Thai Pattana won 10 seats, a drop of six from those previously held by the disbanded Chart Thai Party. It retains all five seats from Suphan Buri and secures the remainder from Ang Thong, Lop Buri, Uthai Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Narathiwat.

In spite of its reduced seats, the party's coalition quotas will remain intact at this juncture since the Democrats have no intention of upsetting the alliance with such a thin majority.

The by-election outcome of filling 29 House seats has had little impact on boosting the House majority. The shifting of four votes between the coalition and the opposition benches can hardly upset or strengthen the power balance.