High spririts at Democrat HQ

The Democrat Party headquarters was filled with joy after the vote counting began yesterday afternoon.

Democrat supporters shouted in joy when Democrat party-list MP Boonyod Sukthinthai announced the progress of vote counting in each district.

MPs and party supporters monitored the ballot counting through two large mobile LED screens installed at the entrance to the party's headquarters.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived at the HQ at 2.50pm, looking grim. He was followed by several leading members, including Surat Thani MP Suthep Thaugsuban, party-list MP Trairong Suwankhiri and Bangkok election director Ongart Klampaiboon as well as deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr.

Democrat candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra was smiling as he arrived at the party offices in the afternoon to monitor the vote count.

Abhisit also monitored the counting by looking at the screens from his office on the second floor.

The party prepared khanom chin (Thai version of spaghetti) for reporters and party members who had come to monitor the counting. At 3.40pm, when about 30 per cent of the votes had been counted, Ong-art said the Democrat Party would respect Bangkok voters' decision, irrespective of whether the party candidate won or lost.

He said the party was gathering information of alleged irregularities. In the latest incident, police searched the body of party supporters who had come to monitor the vote counting at the party head office, Ong-art said.