Parit Watcharasindhu released a clip of Teacher Kaew Supachai clearly stating that blue-faction Senators gathered in Ayutthaya to rig votes, offering 300,000 baht and assistant Senator positions. He urged the Election Commission to forward 229 cases to the court as investigated by the 26th Committee.
At 10:00 on 26 Jun 2026 GMT+7 at the Future Forward building, Parit Watcharasindhu, a party-list MP of the People's Party, held a press conference marking two years since the nationwide Senate election and revealed additional evidence of vote rigging early on. Parit played a video clip for the media, stating that the first evidence was an audio recording of a politician from Nakhon Phanom. In the clip, Supachai Phosu, former Nakhon Phanom MP from the Bhumjaithai Party, spoke at a Bai Sri Su Kwan ceremony celebrating Sithikorn Kongyot's election as a Senator on 17 Aug 2024. Supachai said Sithikorn was one of three Senators elected, and as a supporter, he openly declared that all three Nakhon Phanom Senators clearly belonged to the blue faction. He explained that blue symbolizes the monarchy, so they are not ashamed to be blue faction members, showing loyalty to the monarchy. Supachai described Sithikorn as consistent, dedicated, and supportive of his political activities for years. Currently, Sithikorn is not affiliated with Bhumjaithai due to legal issues but remains aligned with the blue faction.
Parit said that Supachai appeared well acquainted with the three Nakhon Phanom Senators. His use of the term “blue-faction Senators” clearly reflected factional divisions among Senators. Although Supachai stated in the clip that he was merely offering support, the evidence and testimonies collected raise questions about whether his role was more substantial than just encouragement.
Parit presented a second piece of evidence showing a hotel photo, explaining that according to witness accounts, on 24-25 June in Ayutthaya, a gathering took place. Besides candidates, important figures attended, including Supachai, three Senators from Nakhon Phanom, and a teacher identified only as P. Pla involved in preparing voting slips. Witnesses said that on that day, voting slips were prepared on the back of Senate candidate documents for both morning and afternoon Senate elections. Some candidates were displeased because their numbers were missing from the slips. One individual, who later became a Senator, reassured others not to worry, saying other provinces would vote for their numbers and promised that those without points could receive 300,000 baht in cash from him. When dissatisfaction arose, Supachai negotiated privately, stating that if a candidate was not elected, assistant Senator positions would be available, rotating among assistants. He mentioned signing preemptive resignation letters and that CCTV footage was recorded as a form of indirect intimidation. Parit's team surveyed the hotel and found CCTV cameras likely able to identify attendees. The hotel owner is related to a local politician’s family.
Parit continued that the third evidence was a purchase of plane tickets by one of the now Senators from Nakhon Phanom for nine other individuals, detailing flight information and prices. The fourth piece of evidence concerns a meeting on 20 June, one week before the Senate election, at a concrete mill in Nakhon Phanom. Lastly, Parit played an audio clip of a Nakhon Phanom Senator speaking with another leader to propose benefits. The clip featured an offer of 100,000 baht with a half deposit, mentioning that other parties arranged similar schemes. He asserted that if they did not act, others would, and that their expenses were all covered. The audio aimed to persuade selected Senate candidates to block certain positions and offered assistant Senator posts with salaries as compensation.
"We have already paid for all the plane tickets. The Nakhon Phanom group’s plane and hotel expenses are covered. If we don’t block them, we cannot compete. People abandon their parents often, but abandoning money, I’ve never seen," said a man in the audio clip.
When asked if he was concerned that the Election Commission might not consider the evidence presented today or might separate it into parts, weakening its weight, Parit said that if the Election Commission worked transparently, it must consider all evidence collectively. Besides informing the public, today's press conference also communicated with relevant authorities.
Asked whether the Election Commission might consider the Senate vote rigging cases en masse, Parit said that since the investigation committee concluded that at least 229 individuals had credible allegations, he believed the Election Commission should refer all cases. He did not think the 26th investigation committee simply generalized all cases without evidence but likely reviewed the evidence and connections among the 229 people before deciding there was sufficient cause.
Asked if that meant some of the 229 accused might not face charges, Parit emphasized that he had consistently urged the Election Commission to send all cases to court as recommended by the 26th investigation committee, as they would have assessed who had credible allegations and who did not.