Nakhon si thammarat: Kongkiat, a candidate from the Kla Tham party, recently addressed the removal of his name from the list of parliamentary candidates for Constituency 7 in Nakhon Si Thammarat. He stated that this development was not unexpected and expressed that it was a result of a conspiracy following the breakdown of negotiations for a party switch.

According to Thai News Agency, the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) has officially instructed the removal of Kongkiat's name from the Kla Tham Party's candidate list, citing eligibility issues. The ECT's decision was communicated through a letter to its office in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The ECT Director of Nakhon Si Thammarat has been tasked with notifying all relevant parties in compliance with the 2023 parliamentary election regulations and informing Kongkiat of his right to appeal.

Reporters have indicated that Kongkiat was disqualified due to prohibited conduct, stemming from a 1999 conviction by the Surat Thani Provincial Court for stealing four trees. He was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and fined 3,000 baht. As a result, the provincial election director is petitioning the Supreme Court to have Kongkiat's name officially removed from the candidate list.

In a video posted on his Facebook page, "Big O, Provincial Council Member Kongkiat Ketsombat," Kongkiat explained that he and senior Kla Tham Party members anticipated this outcome. He believes this is a move to disqualify him from the current parliamentary election, following the unsuccessful party switch attempt. Kongkiat mentioned that his legal team and senior party officials have collected the necessary information and evidence for an appeal. Should his name be removed, he plans to appeal to the Supreme Court's Election Division, which must consider the case within three days of the ECT's decision.