Yotchanan showcased his vision at Mahidol University, emphasizing educational restructuring. He assured he would not force the entertainment complex project if the public opposes it. He campaigned in Kanchanaburi, appealing for votes for all five Pheu Thai MPs and declared his readiness to be a leader in forming the government.
At 09:45 on 18 Jan 2026 at Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Mr. Yotchanan Wongsawat, Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate, presented his vision titled “Education Policy, Elevating Thai Research and Innovation,” stating that Pheu Thai aims to lay the foundation for becoming a high-income country by enabling everyone to prosper. The party’s policies set the direction for Thailand’s future through educational restructuring. The key is creating new labor forces and incomes, with genuine industries supporting reskilling and upskilling. Many say today we have a poor politician named 'Yotchanan' but have lost good researchers; that’s not true. Many students and professors here are more capable than me. Now that I have the chance, why not act? I strive to connect these elements. Progress requires addressing the entire system—society, people, government, technology, and strong leadership on the global stage without hesitation. Thailand can change and start immediately.
Then, Yotchanan opened the floor to student questions. At one point, a student asked about the entertainment complex, to which he responded, Regarding concerns about whether it involves casinos, no one supports that. We do not accept online gambling at all. When Pheu Thai discussed the entertainment complex to attract foreign investment, casinos were only a small part, and they are already regulated by law. But we listen to the public. If people express discomfort and tend to disagree, we will not proceed or insist on it.
We can attract funds through other means. Without investment, GDP cannot progress. So new projects like Wellness Centers are needed. I want to emphasize that we reject shady practices, corruption, and gambling entirely. I have been asked about this constantly, which is unfair since people associate my name with casinos. I have been in academia all along. On the other hand, students also asked about Pheu Thai’s stance on border issues if it returns to government—whether to compromise or fight back. Yotchanan said, “If fired upon, we will return fire. The most important matters are sovereignty and the safety of local people.” At 12:00, Yotchanan and his team campaigned at Salaya Market, receiving warm responses from vendors and shoppers.
Later, at 15:20 at Saiyok Maneekarnwitthaya School in Kanchanaburi, Yotchanan, accompanied by Mr. Nattawut Saiyaguea, director of Pheu Thai Family, met locals and campaigned to support Mr. Phanom Pho-kaew, Pheu Thai candidate for Kanchanaburi’s 5th district. Mr. Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, also joined the rally, creating a lively atmosphere. Upon arrival, Yotchanan was presented with roses, marigold garlands, bamboo shoot garlands, and fried banana snacks by the crowd.
In his speech, Yotchanan said Saiyok is a place where he conducted continuous research at Mahidol Saiyok, and today feels like returning home. He urged voters to decisively bring back MP Kai on 8 Feb, election day, marking a new hope for Saiyok residents. Pheu Thai will not attack others but focus on delivering policies to the people. We declare war on poverty and aim to solve debt problems systemically. We will make Saiyok a notable destination by keeping it clean and safe. For those running raft tourism businesses, we will regularly monitor water quality to ensure good water for all. For farmers with land overlapping forest areas, no one intends harm. We want to restore justice to those unfairly treated regarding land rights and agricultural land reform. Our only request is to form the government by electing our MPs because I cannot work alone.
Mr. Nattawut said that in the last election, Pheu Thai won 4 out of 5 seats in the province. This time, they hope to sweep all five districts. He urged the public not to listen to those claiming they have power or big positions, or that they will become ministers by running here. The blue party has many big names and ministers—36 ministers in total—but none are from this area because the current list is full. So, this election, they likely won’t get any seats since they already had some when they left Pheu Thai to support Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
At 15:40, Yotchanan was interviewed about his confidence in maintaining Pheu Thai’s seats in Kanchanaburi province. He said he is not worried. What everyone wants is policy-related, and Pheu Thai has an advantage in that regard. When asked about last by-election loss to Bhumjaithai Party and whether the situation differs from the general election, Yotchanan said, There is a difference. The base we manage remains the same. Last time, multiple bases were combined. If we achieve a similar vote count this time, we should win. We aim to win all five seats in this election.
Regarding a NIDA poll showing Chiang Mai voters ranking the People's Party and their prime ministerial candidate first, followed by Pheu Thai in second, Yotchanan responded, He is not worried. There are several polls, some not yet public, showing Pheu Thai leading substantially. This gives us confidence. All our MP candidates must work harder to communicate with voters. In the final week, we will present real policies. Many voters have not decided yet, so our chances remain. We are confident and ready to lead government formation.
When asked about Bhumjaithai’s secretary-general Chaiyachon Chidchob’s earlier declaration that he would not form a government coalition with Pheu Thai, Yotchanan said that the next day, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of Bhumjaithai, said it was a personal opinion. He is unsure which is true and thus refrains from providing further comment.
