Thaksin scores over Newin in Sakon Nakhon by-election

The election was regarded as a struggle between Thaksin, who backed the Pheu Thai Party, and his ex-right hand man Newin Chidchob, who defected to set up his own Bhum Jai Thai Party. Earlier, many political observers had tipped Bhum Jai Thai would win the election.

However the Newin-backed party made mistakes. Pheu Thai Party picked a young and active candidate, Anurak Boonsol, while Bhum Jai Thai settled for Pitak Chantarasri, who is in his 60s as their candidate.

Anurak -in her 40s and a former director of a private college, presented a fresher image to Pitak.

The Sakon Nakhon's third constituency is indeed the stronghold of Pheu Thai, not Bhum Jai Thai - since Anurak's husband, Pongsak Boonsol, is a former member for the constituency who was disqualified by the Election Commission.

Voters in Sakon Nakhon also rejected Bhum Jai Thai's aggressive campaign style using state mechanisms to threaten voters, while Pheu Thai adopted a humble tactic begging for votes from local residents. Former prime minister Thaksin made personal phone calls to the canvassers. "It was very impressive for the canvassers. The former premier Thaksin called them directly on their cell phones," an observer said.

Many Thaksin relatives, including his brother Payap Shinawatra and his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra, were in the province during the campaign.

Bhum Jai Thai's key members admitted that being with the government was not an advantage for the party.

Pheu Thai's knock-out punch to defeat Bhum Jai Thai was a leaflet attacking Newin's background and his defection. At the left corner of the leaflet is a picture of Newin hugging Thaksin and on the right a picture of Newin hugging Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The punch line in the leaflet says "Sakon Nakhon residents- oppose the disgraceful man".

Furthermore, two bombs on Pheu Thai Party's stage were a helpful factor for the Thaksin-backed party.

Another contest round will open in Si Sa Ket between the Pheu Thai Party and a Bhum Jai Thai-backed candidate who runs in the contest next week under the name of the Chart Thai Pattana Party. The by-election in Si Sa Ket will again prove Thaksin's influence and Bhum Jai Thai's political future in the Northeastern region.

The election result in Sakon Nakhon was not simply a victory for Pheu Thai but for fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin over a powerful man like Newin.