Songsak leads the Bhumjaithai Party to nominate his son-in-law, Rang Thurapol, to contest the Udon Thani Constituency 3 by-election. Meanwhile, the New Democracy Party leader has nominated Khachit Chainikom, a former six-term Pheu Thai MP, to run in the race.
On 1 Aug 2026 GMT+7 at the Phen District Office in Udon Thani province, the registration site for the Udon Thani Constituency 3 by-election (covering Sangkhom District, Phen District, and Ban Khao Subdistrict in Mueang District), two candidates arrived early to register. They were Mr. Khachit Chainikom, age 75, a former MP for Udon Thani and Maha Sarakham provinces from the New Democracy Party, and Mr. Athikan Kaokhruasri, or Tung, age 47, son-in-law of the late former Bhumjaithai MP Rang Thurapol, who registered under the Bhumjaithai Party. Supporters accompanied them to offer encouragement. The atmosphere was calm and orderly, with no banners or cheering, as everyone sat quietly in designated areas.
Following this, both candidates sequentially reported for registration. Mr. Rachan Sunhua, Governor of Udon Thani, Ms. Samihara Decha-angkoon, Director of the Udon Thani Election Commission, and Mr. Kanaphat Pimkhod, Phen District Chief, led the officials overseeing the registration process and facilitated the proceedings. The candidates agreed informally without drawing lots: since Mr. Khachit Chainikom arrived first, he received candidate number 1, while Mr. Athikan Kaokhruasri, arriving shortly after, was assigned number 2.
Additionally, Mr. Surathin Pichan, leader of the New Democracy Party, came with the candidate, and Mr. Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader for the Upper Northeastern region, arrived to show support after the numbers were assigned. Upon entering the registration room, he greeted Mr. Khachit Chainikom, who was leaving, with a handshake, saying, “We have been in politics together since ’92; now it’s ’26.” Mr. Khachit responded in the Isan dialect, “Don’t try too hard.”
Today, Mr. Khachit Chainikom, aged 75, wore a white jacket of the New Democracy Party, with the name of the party leader, MP Sutin Pichan (Teacher Tim), embroidered on the back. Mr. Khachit is a former six-term MP: first elected in 1992 with the New Hope Party in Udon Thani, then two terms in 2009 representing Maha Sarakham with Pheu Thai in a by-election after MP Sutin Klangsaeng was disqualified from politics. He was elected again in 2011 and 2019 in Udon Thani Constituency 4 under Pheu Thai. However, in 2023, Pheu Thai changed candidates, leading Mr. Khachit to join the New Democracy Party.
Mr. Athikan Kaokhruasri, or Tung, age 47, wore a Bhumjaithai Party jacket with the slogan “Say it, do it” on the back. His campaign slogan is “Son-in-law of former MP Rang Thurapol, our hometown man,” using the phrase “our hometown man, former MP Rang” as a political tagline. Mr. Athikan is a key member of his father-in-law’s team, while his wife serves as a provincial council member for Constituency 3 in Phen District.
