Srawong Thianthong, Deputy Leader of the Pheu Thai Party, is ready to offer himself as a candidate in the Sa Kaeo District 3 by-election. He acknowledges the limited preparation time but remains confident due to his continuous local engagement and full commitment to working with the community.
On 6 November 2026, Srawong Thianthong, Deputy Leader of the Pheu Thai Party, spoke ahead of the party's extraordinary general meeting 1/2569 about the upcoming by-election for the Sa Kaeo Province District 3 parliamentary seat, vacated by Surasak Chingnavorn of the Kla Tham Party, who passed away on 24 October. He said that he has always been involved in this area, whether serving as an MP or not. The Pheu Thai Party views the vacancy as unexpected with limited preparation time. He personally is ready to offer himself for party consideration to run, motivated by his ongoing commitment to coordinate and work with local residents.
Regarding competitors for this election, Srawong said he does not yet know which parties will nominate candidates, but all parties have the right to compete. He expects the election to be highly contested.
As for the strategy to reclaim the parliamentary seat, he affirmed there will be no changes from the previous approach, as he continues to engage with and serve the community consistently, with only a brief absence while serving as a minister.
When asked to analyze factors behind the previous election loss, Srawong cited multiple reasons. A key issue was the border problem, which was used politically against him, as well as the Eastern Cattlemen group issue, also exploited as a political tool. He reaffirmed that his approach remains the same: ongoing face-to-face contact with the people.
The by-election is scheduled for 6 December. If nominations open on the first day, campaigning will last just over 20 days, which is a relatively short period. Nevertheless, he intends to work fully during this time.
Regarding his confidence in reclaiming the parliamentary seat, Srawong said he is confident each time but acknowledges there are many factors to monitor, as no one knows what events might occur between now and election day. Regardless, he will perform his duties to the fullest.
In the previous election, where he lost by a margin, Srawong noted that over 32,000 voters still supported him. He was defeated by about 6,000 to 7,000 votes and has carefully analyzed the results to identify his weaknesses, especially regarding border issues and the Eastern Cattlemen group, which were focal points of political attacks during the campaign.
On whether his local assistance during recent floods would help voters see his work and affect the by-election results, Srawong explained that helping during floods has always been part of his ongoing duties, not motivated by the sudden by-election. He has been present in the area continuously, including during the 2013 floods when he served as Deputy Minister of Public Health and assisted locals. The community has observed his consistent efforts. He also noted that events and media coverage can change rapidly, and even minor issues can have significant political impacts.