On the morning of 3 January, Pheu Thai leader Julaphan Amornwiwat and a team of party candidates visited Suan Luang 1, a predominantly Muslim community in the Bang Kho Laem district of Bangkok, to meet residents and campaign ahead of the upcoming election.
Pheu Thai campaign Bangkok draws local support
The delegation arrived at 08:00 and moved through the neighbourhood greeting shopkeepers and residents. Mr Julaphan, accompanied by candidates for Bangkok and party-list seats, stopped to exchange New Year greetings with rival constituency candidate Saroch Torteanchi of Bhumjaithai, demonstrating the routine civility of local campaigning.
As they progressed through the area, members of the public offered flowers and words of encouragement. The party said it received a warm response and visible smiles from many who recognised the candidates. Julaphan described the connection as personal: his family has long-standing ties to the locality and he said he felt at home walking the market streets.
During the visit a resident flagged the party’s long history of support, saying they had followed Pheu Thai since the era of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The resident produced a 20‑baht banknote bearing Thaksin’s signature, which they said dated from a large campaign rally at Sanam Luang some twenty years ago. The anecdote was presented as a symbol of enduring loyalty rather than a formal endorsement.
Campaigning focused on practical, local issues. Candidates noted the distinctive character of the area market, praising its authenticity and the central role it plays in daily life. Pheu Thai representatives said they would consider policies to boost footfall from outside the community and support local traders – measures aimed at creating new income opportunities and strengthening the market’s appeal.
Julaphan told reporters the day’s reception was encouraging and described the visit as an opportunity to hear directly from voters. He emphasised the party’s intent to build on community assets and explore ways of attracting visitors without undermining the market’s local character. That approach, he said, would aim to preserve neighbourhood identity while helping residents earn more from their businesses.
Observers noted the symbolic value of the encounter with long-term supporters who recall the party’s earlier era. The signed banknote served as a reminder of Pheu Thai’s historical base; at the same time, the party has sought to present a forward-looking message focused on local economic initiatives and constituency-level engagement.
For now, the visit reinforced familiar ties and offered Pheu Thai an opportunity to test campaign messaging on the ground. Candidates concluded the walk-through with renewed emphasis on listening to local concerns and proposing tangible steps to support community markets and livelihoods.
Key Takeaways:
- Local campaigning by Pheu Thai leader Julaphan Amornwiwat met warm reception in Suan Luang community.
- Residents recalled long-term support dating back to the Thaksin era, with one showing a 20‑baht note signed by Thaksin Shinawatra.
- Party candidates emphasised community ties and plans to boost market footfall and local incomes.
