The Election Commission (EC) has recommended the Appeals Court disqualify Traisornkom Nongruang, Mukdahan MP for constituency 2 from the Klattham Party, for improperly supporting Veerapong Thongpha, Mukdahan Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) chief, and has ordered a new Mukdahan PAO chief election.
20 May 2026 GMT+7 Police Lieutenant Colonel Sutian Thongsom, chairman of the Rak Mukdahan Club, revealed that he received a letter from the Mukdahan Provincial Election Commission Office informing him of the resolution by the Election Commission (EC) regarding the investigation related to Veerapong Thongpha, a candidate for Mukdahan Provincial Administrative Organization chief, candidate number 5, along with three others, who were accused of conduct possibly violating the Local Council or Local Executive Election Act B.E. 2562 (2019) and its amendments, Section 65 (1).
The letter from the Mukdahan Provincial EC stated that the EC considered the investigation on 31 March 2026 and resolved to dismiss the complaints on issues 1 and 3 through 13, but on issue 2 decided to file a petition with the Appeals Court or regional Appeals Court to revoke the candidacy or election rights of Traisornkom Nongruang. It also called for a new Mukdahan PAO chief election and criminal prosecution of those involved. The official EC ruling is currently being prepared.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Sutian further said that earlier he and the Rak Mukdahan Club submitted a complaint to the EC requesting an investigation into multiple campaign conduct issues, including providing goods or other benefits that could be valued monetarily, such as support with drinking water, traditional events, funerals, mortuary services, and funeral transportation. The complainants believed these could constitute giving benefits to voters to politically influence them.
Another key complaint was the use of the “Number 5” symbol on social media in a way the complainants viewed as indirect campaign communication. After the candidate was assigned number 5, messages and images were posted via a Facebook page named “Secretary Dam Mukdahan,” linking the “Energy Saving Label Number 5” symbol with the message “You must choose number 5.” The complainants saw this as a code or symbol representing the candidate’s number to communicate with supporters and local voters.
Additionally, the complainants alleged that before the election, related groups had continuously supported various local activities, and during the election period, the “Number 5” symbol was used online in a manner the complainants interpreted as reminding or signaling those who had received assistance to associate it with the candidate’s number.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Sutian emphasized that this action is not a personal conflict but an exercise of citizens’ rights to ensure the election’s fairness and integrity. “This is not anyone’s victory but a democratic process of verification. The country must operate under the law.”
The reporter noted that currently, Veerapong Thongpha serves as Mukdahan PAO chief, while Traisornkom Nongruang has now changed his name to “Secretary Dam Traisornkom Nongruang” and holds the position of Member of Parliament (MP) for Mukdahan constituency 2 with the Klattham Party.