Leading candidate Suchat requests recount in Chonburi's Constituency 1

Bhumjaithai’s candidate for Chonburi’s Constituency 1, Suchat Chomklin, submitted a petition to the Election Commission (EC) today, requesting a recount of the vote to ensure transparency and fairness.

Constituency 1, which covers eight sub-districts, has been at the centre of controversy after large crowds rallied demanding a recount, alleging irregularities and vote rigging.

According to an unofficial vote tally, Suchat, the incumbent Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, received 43,703 votes, followed by the People's party candidate with 39,920 votes and the Democrat party candidate with 2,791 votes.

Suchat claimed to the media today that his votes were “organically earned and gathered with full transparency.” [sic]

His petition for a recount was filed to clear confusion, particularly among residents in the eight sub-districts who may have lost trust in the country's democratic process.

"As a representative who has earned the highest degree of trust from the people in Constituency 1, Chonburi, I am fully committed to cooperating in every legal way to ensure that the recount is conducted fairly, in accordance with the law and in the best interests of the people," he said.

He also explained that he had only recently realised that, as a stakeholder in the matter, he had the right to petition the EC for a recount.

"Only voters or those directly involved, such as myself or other candidates, have the right to challenge the results," he added.

"It’s not right that people from outside the district, or even other provinces, are stirring up confusion," he concluded.