BANGKOK: Beratus-ratus calon yang akan bertanding pada pilihan raya umum Thailand 14 Mei mula mendaftar bagi merebut kerusi di kawasan masing-masing.
Di Bangkok, calon-calon yang diiringi penyokong parti tiba di Pusat Belia Bangkok seawal mungkin dengan harapan untuk memperoleh 'nombor bertuah'.
Kebanyakan calon mengharapkan nombor satu digit kerana ia mudah diingati oleh pengundi.
Perdana Menteri, Prayuth Chan-o-cha diiringi pemimpin dan calon United Thai Nation Party turut berada di Pusat Belia Bangkok untuk memberikan sokongan moral kepada calon parti di kawasan itu.
Selain itu, Prawit Wongsuwan dari parti Palang Pracharath, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, calon perdana menteri parti Pheu Thai, Jurin Laksanawisit dari Parti Demokrat, dan ketua parti Move Forward Pita Limjaroenrat turut sama hadir memberikan sokongan kepada calon parti masing-masing.
Prayuth berkata, Thailand memerlukan pemimpin yang memahami tugas dan tanggungjawab untuk membolehkan mereka berkhidmat kepada rakyat dan negara.
"Saya tahu bagaimana untuk melakukannya dan untuk menjadikannya kenyataan," katanya kepada Thairath TV.
Beliau berkata, isu mengenai kesesakan lalu lintas, masalah sampah dan perparitan di Bangkok adalah antara keutamaannya.
Sementara itu, Prawit berkata calon partinya berikrar akan berusaha yang terbaik untuk rakyat.
"Kami tidak menetapkan sebarang matlamat (kerusi untuk menang) dalam pilihan raya akan datang, terpulang kepada rakyat untuk membuat keputusan," katanya.
Bagi Paetongtarn Shinawatra dari Parti Pheu Thai pula parti itu berharap memenangi 33 kerusi dalam kawasan pilihan raya Bangkok.
"Kami akan terus melakukan yang terbaik. Terserah kepada rakyat untuk memilih. Kami akan berusaha sebaik mungkin sepanjang tempoh berkempen.
"Kami berharap rakyat akan keluar untuk melaksanakan hak mereka pada 14 Mei. Pheu Thai akan meraih kemenangan besar pada pilihan raya akan datang," kata anak bongsu bekas perdana menteri Thaksin Shinawatra itu.
Thaksin kini tinggal dalam buangan di Dubai.
Paetongtarn ialah calon perdana menteri Pheu Thai.
Sementara itu, proses pendaftaran calon di selatan Thailand berjalan lancar.
Terdapat sejumlah 24 kerusi di lima wilayah selatan - Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla dan Satun.
Setiausaha Agung Parti Prachachat Pol Kolonel Tawee Sodsong berkata parti itu dijangka memenangi 13 kerusi di Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat dan Songkhla.
"Calon kami terdiri daripada penduduk tempatan yang lebih memahami situasi dan isu tempatan," katanya.
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya menetapkan 14 Mei sebagai hari pengundian manakala pengundian awal pada 7 Mei. - BERNAMA
CANDIDATES BEGIN REGISTERING TO CONTEST IN THAI GENERAL ELECTION
BANGKOK, April 3 (Bernama) -- Hundreds of hopefuls began registering as candidates at various constituencies throughout Thailand on Monday for the May 14 General Election.
In Bangkok, candidates accompanied by party supporters gathered at the Bangkok Youth Centre early with the hopes to draw a 'lucky and auspicious number' to run in upcoming election.
Most candidates hoped for a single-digit candidate number because it will be easily remembered by voters when they cast their ballots on election day.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha accompanied by his United Thai Nation Party leaders and candidates, arrived at the Bangkok Youth Centre on an open-top truck to offer moral support to party constituency candidates.
Besides that, Prawit Wongsuwan from Palang Pracharath party, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai party, Jurin Laksanawisit of Democrat Party, and Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat also convened at the venue to lend their support to party candidates for Bangkok constituency.
Meanwhile, Prayuth said that Thailand needs leaders who knew their duties and continued with their responsibilities to serve the people and country.
"I know how to proceed…make it happen too," he told Thairath TV. He added that issues on traffic congestion, garbage and drainage problems in Bangkok were among his priorities.
Meanwhile, Prawit said his party's candidates pledged to do their best for the people.
"We are not setting any goals (seats to win) in the coming election, it is up to the people to decide," he said.
Meanwhile, Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Pheu Thai Party said the party is hopeful to win most of 33 seats within Bangkok constituency.
"We will continue to do our best. It is up to the people to use their right to vote. We will go all out during the campaigning period.
"We hope the people will come out to exercise their rights on May 14. Pheu Thai is to pull of a landslide victory in this coming election," the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said. Thaksin is living in self-exile in Dubai.
Paetongtarn is also Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate.
Meanwhile, the candidate registration process in troubled southern Thailand went smooth.
There are a total of 24 seats for five southern provinces namely - Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun.
Secretary-general of Prachachat Party Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong said the party is expected to win 13 seats in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla in coming election.
"Our candidates are local residents who understand the situation and local issues better," he said.
The Election Commission set May 14 as polling day while advance polling on May 7.
-- BERNAMA
Tags: Thailand, General Election, Prayuth Chan o-cha, Registration, Candidates
