Prateep disqualified from city race for failing to vote

A Bangkok gubernatorial election candidate was yesterday disqualified for failing to vote in the last general election.

But the No 14 candidate, Prateep Watcharachokkasem, insisted he voted on July 3, 2011 and vowed to appeal against his disqualification.

Bangkok City Clerk Ninnart Chalitanon, director of the Bangkok election, yesterday announced the list of qualified candidates.

She said Prateep was disqualified because the record showed he did not vote, and had not informed the authorities of any reason.

Ninnart said the candidacy numbers would not be changed because of Prateep's disqualification. She said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would skip the number 14 on the ballot sheets.

Prateep could appeal to the Election Commission (EC) within three days, she said.

Prateep insisted he had voted in all elections and said he would file a complaint with the EC to reinstate his election rights. He said he might file a defamation suit against the BMA.

Upon hearing Prateep's argument, Ninnart said Prateep would have to support his claim with evidence because the record of the Household Registration Department of the BMA did not show Prateep as having voted on July 3, 2011.

In a related development, the BMA clerk asked the gubernatorial candidates not to put up campaign signs in a way that blocked traffic and traffic lights, or that could harm people.

Ninnart said the candidates would be told to remove street signs that violated the order of the BMA immediately.