“Taepipob Limjittrakorn” may proceed as the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by a lawyer requesting the court to order regarding the People's Party changing the candidate for Bangkok Noi district MP, replacing “Boonrit,” stating the petitioner lacked authority to file.
On 30 January 2026 at the Supreme Court on Ratchadamnoen Nai Road, reporters reported that on 24 January, the Supreme Court's Election Division heard the case number Red Lot S.S.S.K.10/2569, in which lawyer Surachai Niwasphan filed a petition regarding Boonrit Raorungroj, former candidate for Bangkok Noi district MP from the People's Party (Pop Party), who resigned before the party nominated Taepipob Limjittrakorn, a former Bangkok MP, as the new candidate for the district.
The petitioner stated he was a lawyer and citizen, claiming that Boonrit, who was a constituency MP candidate for the People's Party, resigned from the party and was replaced by Taepipob as the candidate. The petitioner argued that neither the candidate nor the party has the right to withdraw or change a candidate under Article 87 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand and Article 52 of the 2018 Election Act, and requested the Supreme Court to issue an order as it sees fit.
The Supreme Court's Election Division reviewed the petition and supporting documents and decided the case could be judged without evidence examination and ordered to forgo such examination.
There was an issue to determine first whether the petitioner had the right to file the petition. The court noted that in cases involving qualifications or disqualifications of constituency MP candidates, the 2018 Election Act grants the Supreme Court jurisdiction to decide in three cases, namely:
First, if the district election officer refuses to accept or announce a person as a candidate, that person has the right to petition the Supreme Court to order their name be added within seven days from the date of refusal or announcement, according to Article 49.
Second, if any eligible voter or candidate petitions the Election Commission claiming a person on the candidate list is ineligible, and the Election Commission orders the withdrawal of that candidate, that candidate has the right to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court within three days from the withdrawal, as per Article 51, paragraph two.
Third, before election day, if the election officer finds any candidate is ineligible, they may petition the Supreme Court to order the removal of that candidate's name from the candidate list, according to Article 52.
The petitioner’s claim regarding Boonrit resigning and the party nominating Taepipob as replacement, arguing that neither the candidate nor the party had the right to withdraw or change candidates under Article 87 of the Constitution and Article 52 of the 2018 Election Act, does not fall under provisions granting the Supreme Court jurisdiction to adjudicate. Therefore, the petitioner lacks authority to file this petition with the Supreme Court.
The court therefore ordered the petition to be dismissed.