BHUMJAITHAI PARTY WINS LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN THAILAND STUNNING ITS RIVALS

Dramatic turnaround of a political party is not unheard of in electoral politics. But not often does a political outfit rise from 13 per cent of national vote cast in an election to forming a government in the subsequent one as Bhumjaithai Party (BP), a pro- monarchy outfit of Cambodia has performed. In a house of 500  members, it has bagged more than 190 seats in this election. Its tally was 71 seats in the last election held
in 2023.

BP’s formula of success lay in a combination of systematic campaign and a surge in nationalist sentiment post border clashes last year between Cambodia and Thailand. Its greatest challenger, youth-led reformist People’s Party (PP) won 118 seats in this election.

The PP is the successor of Move Forward Party which was the single largest party after the 2023 elections. But it was blocked from forming the government by allies of the military and the monarchy in the Upper House of Parliament.

It was forced to disband and emerged again after a new name. Entrenched monarchist interests constantly keep the PP under pressure for its view that the royal family of Thailand should be open to scrutiny.

The royal family in Thailand is historically untouchable. But then being part of erstwhile Establishment is no guarantee for success in Thailand. The Pheu Thai party of the Shinwatra family has given four prime ministers to the country. It finished third in the recent elections.

The BP is led by Anutin Charnvirakul. The landslide victory could give him the clearest mandate than any political party has had in years. Such mandate could bring stability. But it won’t guarantee healing the wounds that led to this moment.

For it does not address the unhappiness of a significant section of the Thai populace. They are aggrieved about the way the PP activists have been treated. Relations with Cambodia continue to remain tense. The more than strained bilateral relations was one of the reasons why Pheu Thai government had to make way for Charnvirakul and his party.

The electoral victory comes at a crucial juncture as the monarchy is trying to strengthen ties with China. For the first time, the Thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn and queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana paid a visit beyond what was behind the “Bamboo Curtain’ recently.

India will have to watch the incoming Thai government’s foreign policy carefully. There is no reason to suggest that Thailand to be remotely antagonistic to India. But a deepening ties with China concerns India. For India can overlook a strong Sino-Thai ties at its own peril.

China is Thailand’s leading trade partner. Bilateral trade reached $153 billion in 2025. China is also the leading arms supplier to Thailand, sometimes surpassing traditional ally USA. The two countries hold joint military exercises too.

As regards Thailand, India’s diplomatic corps have their plate full. They have to deal with disparate forces. The political forces on its platter would be monarchist and military, reformist and family-led. India cannot let things to drift; it should better roll up its sleeves to navigate this latest shift in Bangkok.