Khon Kaen PAO Election 2025: Watthana Faces 6-Term Chief
The Khon Kaen local election heats up as Watthana secures ballot No. 1 with Klatham Party backing, while 6-term former chief Phongsak returns to challenge.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Watthana draws ballot number 1, pushing forward his '9 Dee Heit Tor' policy platform
- Phongsak, 6-term former PAO chief, returns to the race focusing on budget execution
- The Klatham Party dispatches key strategists to support Watthana's campaign in Khon Kaen
- The 4th Region Court of Appeal cleared Watthana of vote-buying allegations
The local administrative election in Khon Kaen province has intensified following the official candidate ballot drawing. Watthana secured ballot number 1, a lucky number he used in his previous election campaign, expressing gratitude after the 4th Region Court of Appeal ordered a re-election and explicitly cleared him of any involvement in vote-buying scandals.
Although Klatham Party leader Capt. Thamanat Prompow could not attend in person due to his August 18 birthday, he sent party strategy chairman Anuditya Nakornthap and close aide Himalai Mala-porn to oversee the campaign in Khon Kaen and support Watthana in defending his seat.
Running as an independent candidate, Watthana campaigned on his "9 Dee Heit Tor" policy framework, proposing EV minibuses for public transit, mobile grievance reporting, establishing Khon Kaen as the capital of Mor Lam folk music, and building 26 landmarks across 26 districts. He also highlighted his signature road construction standard, avoiding budget splitting below 500,000 baht to ensure continuous, transparent infrastructure projects.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"Noyobay of mine this time will build upon the 9 Dee policies from before into the 9 Dee Heit Tor policy to continue initiated projects."
Watthana
Meanwhile, Phongsak, a veteran 6-term former Khon Kaen PAO chief, re-entered the political arena with a pledge to leverage his deep experience to upgrade local living standards. He raised concerns that current capital budget disbursement sits at only around 30% near the September 30 fiscal year-end, contrasting sharply with his tenure when disbursement rates exceeded 90%.
This Khon Kaen local election highlights a fierce battle between established political heavyweights where administrative efficiency and capital budget management have become focal points. The court-ordered re-election forces both camps to fiercely contest their past performances and concrete local development plans to win over voters.
Source: Matichon Politics
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