Introducing Athikan Kaokruasri, son-in-law of Rang Thuraphon, who successfully defended the seat as the newly elected MP for Udon Thani's 3rd district under the blue camp, Bhumjaithai Party, with a clear victory over his opponents.
On 30 August 2026 GMT+7, the Udon Thani 3rd district by-election unfolded as expected when Athikan Kaokruasri, candidate number 3 from the Bhumjaithai Party and son-in-law of former MP Rang Thuraphon, who previously held the area, won decisively. This achievement helped Bhumjaithai retain the seat once again.
Athikan Kaokruasri, nicknamed “Toong,” is currently 47 years old and is the husband of Ms. Liam Thuraphon, also known as S.Councilor Liam. She currently serves as a member of the Udon Thani Provincial Administrative Organization Council for Phen district’s 3rd constituency. Ms. Liam is also the daughter of the late Rang Thuraphon, former MP for Udon Thani’s 3rd district from the Bhumjaithai Party, making Athikan his son-in-law.
In his by-election campaign for Udon Thani’s 3rd district, Athikan used the slogan “Son-in-law of former MP Rang Thuraphon, our hometown man,” echoing a phrase Rang used in his political career. Athikan was a key member of his father-in-law’s team, while Rang’s wife serves as the Chief of Chiang Wang Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Phen district.
Prior to the election, Athikan worked as a construction contractor and played a significant role in assisting his father-in-law’s campaign. The Thuraphon family has been a long-standing political force in Phen district for decades, starting with Rang’s tenure as Chief of Chiang Wang Subdistrict Administrative Organization before rising to become an MP during the early days of the Thai Sang Thai Party led by Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan. Later, Rang was known as one of the party’s “snakes” (a political term) and in the 2026 election switched to the blue camp, joining Bhumjaithai Party, where he successfully retained his seat until his passing from lung cancer at age 69.
In the Udon Thani 3rd district by-election, Songsak Thongsri, deputy leader of the Bhumjaithai Party overseeing the upper northeastern region, decided to nominate a family member to maintain the political base. Initially, there was consideration to field Rang’s daughter or wife, but both had been party members for less than the legally required 90 days. Consequently, the family chose to nominate Athikan Kaokruasri, the son-in-law, who won the seat decisively with a total of 37,961 votes.
Reports indicate that in the next general election, the party may officially nominate Rang’s daughter or wife for the MP seat, leveraging the recognizable Thuraphon surname.
