Bangkok: Thammanat Phromphao, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has raised alarms regarding the recent election, expressing concern about the possibility of its results being invalidated.

According to Thai News Agency, Thammanat highlighted issues related to the election process, particularly focusing on the inclusion of barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers, which has sparked public concern over the principle of secret balloting.

Thammanat, who is also the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Kla Tham Party, noted that the party's executive committee is set to convene on February 19 to strategize the way forward while awaiting the official announcement of results from the Election Commission. He shared that he has consulted with legal experts, including former Attorney General and Supreme Administrative Court judges, to navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding the election. Ensuring the protection of citizens' voting data is a top priority, and any potential data leaks that compromise voter security could have serious implications.

Thammanat admitted that while the prospect of a new election is challenging, he remains confident in the party's support base. He stated that if a new election is required, the party is prepared, though it would indeed be arduous to restart the electoral process. From the royal decree on December 12 calling for elections up to the election day on February 8, significant efforts were made by all parties involved.

The upcoming executive committee meeting of the Kla Tham Party will also focus on celebrating the elected members and preparing all party members with knowledge on legal provisions and electoral guidelines to prevent any violations. The agenda notably excludes discussions on forming a government or ministerial allocations, rumors of which Thammanat dismissed, clarifying that no such discussions have taken place with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul or within the party.

Thammanat humorously remarked on his unarranged meeting with Anutin, mentioning his upcoming vacation to Europe to witness the Northern Lights, which might temporarily disrupt communications. Ultimately, Thammanat emphasized that the priority should be on ensuring the clarity and verification of the election results, rather than hastily entering government formation talks.