In a surprising turn of events, Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been elected as Thailand's new Prime Minister, after months of political turmoil. This comes as a political arrangement brokered by her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, resulted in a coalition led by Paetongtarn's party coming to power. However, her election has also been met with criticism due to the family's controversial history in Thai politics, raising concerns about further consolidation of power in the hands of the Shinawatras.
Background
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, made history in the recent Thai elections by becoming the country's first female Prime Minister. This victory is the culmination of years of political maneuvering and a coalition agreement brokered by her father, Thaksin, who himself was a controversial figure in Thai politics.
Thaksin Shinawatra was elected Prime Minister in 2001 and served until 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup. He was accused of corruption and abuse of power, and fled the country to avoid prosecution. Despite his exile, Thaksin remained influential in Thai politics through his family's wealth and political connections.
Election and Coalition
In the lead-up to the 2023 elections, Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai Party formed a coalition with several smaller parties. The coalition agreed to support Paetongtarn as their candidate for Prime Minister. The Pheu Thai Party won the most seats in the election, but they did not win an outright majority. This necessitated the formation of a coalition government with other parties in order to secure a majority in parliament.
After a period of negotiations, Pheu Thai and its coalition partners agreed to form a government with Paetongtarn as Prime Minister. The coalition controls a majority of seats in parliament, giving it the necessary support to pass legislation and form a stable government.
Controversy and Criticism
Paetongtarn's election has been met with both praise and criticism. Some voters welcomed the prospect of a new female leader and the potential for a fresh start in Thai politics. Others expressed concern about the Shinawatra family's history of corruption and their authoritarian tendencies.
Critics of the Shinawatra family argue that Thaksin's legacy is one of cronyism, corruption, and the erosion of democratic institutions. They fear that Paetongtarn will continue her father's policies and further consolidate power in the hands of the Shinawatra family.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q: Who is Paetongtarn Shinawatra?
A: Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. She is Thailand's first female Prime Minister.
Q: How did Paetongtarn become Prime Minister?
A: Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai Party formed a coalition with several smaller parties. The coalition agreed to support Paetongtarn as their candidate for Prime Minister, and she won a majority of seats in parliament.
Q: What is the Shinawatra family's history in Thai politics?
A: Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn's father, was a controversial Prime Minister who was overthrown in a military coup. He was accused of corruption and abuse of power, and he fled the country to avoid prosecution.
Q: Are there concerns about Paetongtarn's election?
A: Some voters have expressed concern about the Shinawatra family's history of corruption and their authoritarian tendencies. They fear that Paetongtarn will continue her father's policies and further consolidate power in the hands of the Shinawatra family.
Q: What are Paetongtarn's plans for Thailand?
A: Paetongtarn has promised to focus on economic recovery, job creation, and social welfare programs. She has also pledged to tackle corruption and reform Thai politics.
BR Patil, Congress MLA from Karnataka's Aland, has claimed that there was an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to steal votes leading up to the 2023 elections in the state. This allegation, backed by evidence of over 6,000 voter deletions, has been supported by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who has accused the BJP of systematically deleting the names of Congress voters. The BJP has denied these allegations, calling it a ploy by the Congress to discredit them and gain political mileage. However, Gandhi has hinted at more significant revelations to come.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, slammed the Karnataka government for the deteriorating state of Bengaluru's infrastructure, which has resulted in an IT company moving out of the city. He criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for their negligence and corruption. Kumaraswamy appealed to the industries not to leave Bengaluru and promised to rebuild the city. He also called out the government for their failure in utilizing taxpayers' money for development and demanded answers for the same.
In a press conference, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi unveiled evidence showing a widespread conspiracy to delete voters from electoral rolls in India. He presented examples and detailed data indicating that the alleged operations were carried out through automated systems and coordinated at a centralized level. Gandhi claimed that these tactics were used to manipulate elections in several states, and also accused the Election Commission of facilitating this voter deletion.
During a press conference, Rahul Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of aiding the suppression of votes belonging to marginalized communities like Dalits and minorities. The Election Commission denied the allegations, stating that no vote can be deleted online without proper procedures and investigation. However, the poll body did acknowledge failed attempts to delete votes in Karnataka's Aland constituency in 2023 and an FIR has been filed to investigate. The Congress leader claimed that the Election Commission is purposely obstructing investigations to hide the truth about these deletions.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi once again stirred up controversy by accusing the BJP and Election Commission of systematic voter fraud through manipulation of electoral rolls. In response, BJP MP Anurag Thakur fired back, accusing Gandhi of spreading baseless allegations and undermining democracy. The Election Commission has dismissed all of Gandhi's claims, citing that no voter's name can be deleted through online means without proper procedure.
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi is set to address a press conference on Thursday, where he is expected to present evidence of alleged vote theft in Indian elections. Gandhi has been vocal about the issue in previous speeches, accusing the government of using unfair means to form their power. He also claimed that the Election Commission is working in collaboration with the ruling party. The Congress promised to provide proof to back their claims and expose corruption in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Karnataka.
The centre has directed the removal of 138 YouTube videos and 83 Instagram posts related to Adani, citing a Delhi court order. The move comes amid ongoing disputes over the Adani Group's involvement in various projects. This action has been met with criticism, with some questioning the government's interference in online content.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi revealed that the party has uncovered over 6,000 voter deletions in Aland constituency, Karnataka, ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. According to their investigation, these deletions were not random or accidental but specifically targeted booths where the party was performing strongly. The deletions were carried out through fake applications and mobile numbers from outside Karnataka, raising concerns of an organized effort to manipulate the election process. Congress is calling for a thorough investigation to uphold the integrity of the democratic process.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of protecting those involved in "vote chori" (vote stealing) and undermining democracy. He cited recent instances of voter deletions in Karnataka's Aland and fraudulent additions in Maharashtra's Rajura as evidence of systematic targeting of Congress voters. Speaking at a press conference, Gandhi urged for a fair and transparent election process to uphold the principles of democracy.
Congress MP and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, held a news conference and claimed that the Chief Election Commissioner is protecting those who are destroying the Constitution and democracy in India. He also alleged that a group of people is systematically cutting the votes of minority groups who vote for the Congress party. In response, politicians from different parties have dismissed his accusations and stated that he is making these statements out of desperation and frustration.