By Thai Newsroom Reporters
“BIG HOUSE” and party-skipping contestants running in constituency-based mode are upping the ante of their “ammunition” in an all-out effort to outvote rival candidates who may be only vying with campaign policies and hypes in the Feb.8 election, concluded a noted academic today (Jan.20).
The “Big House” candidates and those who have switched parties to seek re-election could possibly have the vote-buying money offered in hush-hush fashion amounting in a range of 3,000 to 7,500 baht per head since they would spontaneously take for granted that they could not convince prospective voters of their political ideologies or policies as well as personal or partisan hype in comparison to some rival contenders, according to Thammasat University’s political scientist Attasit Pankaeo.
In some constituencies where results of a previous election were neck and neck between the winner and first runner-up, the amount of vote-buying cash would incredibly increase whilst canvassers would undoubtedly ask for more in exchange for their ammunition-generated victory, Attasit pointed out.
“The more the Big House and party-skipping contestants are inclined to think they are losing, the more they will up the ante of their ammunition to outvote the ideologies, policies and hypes.
“Judging from the two previous elections, members of society have not positively responded to campaigns against vote-buying tactics and instead they would continue to take the money and help reassure the vote-buyers of an electoral victory. It has become sort of a household custom,” the Thammasat academic said.
In political jargon, “Big House” refers to members of a well-known family in the provinces who may rise to power ranging from district and provincial to national levels and manage to retain it primarily with the illicit use of money and influence whereas “ammunition” refers to the vote-buying money.
That the constituent could possibly not choose the vote-buying contestant though they may have taken their vote-buying money might probably be part of a shrewd tactic to ask for more money, Attasit said.
Nevertheless, he insisted that the Election Commission ask the police and the Anti-Money-Laundering Office to help crack down on vote-buying and electoral rigging shenanigans since those who may have literally bought their way to parliament in previous elections could eventually get away with it.
CAPTIONS:
Top – Graphic image on election in Thailand. Credit – Amarin TV
Insert – Political scientist Attasit Pankaeo. Photo – Thammasat University
Front Page – People checking the voting list prior to casting their ballot. Photo – Thai Rath
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