NIDA poll boost to sick Thailand PM Prayut

The latest NIDA poll should provide a welcome boost to the health of Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who remains in hospital after the Thai leader complained about severe swelling and infection in his right hand.

A recent survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed that the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party chief is preferred as Thailand’s prime minister among people in the southern province of Songkhla, followed by Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party.

In terms of party preference for constituency MPs, the Democrat Party came in first, followed by Pheu Thai, PM Prayut’s UTN party, and Move Forward.

For the party-list MP system, the Democrat Party was again the top choice, followed by Pheu Thai, United Thai Nation, and Move Forward.

According to the NIDA poll conducted on eligible voters in the southern province of Songkhla between February 17 and February 23, the respondents were asked who they would support for the post of prime minister.

The answers were:

• 26.00% for Gen Prayut of the United Thai Nation Party
  • 18.46% for Ms Paetongtarn of the Pheu Thai Party
  • 11.36% for Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward Party
  • 10.36% thought nobody was suitable
  • 7.18% for Korn Chatikavanij of the Chart Pattanakla Party
  • 6.73% for Jurin Laksanavisit of the Democrat Party
  • 4.64% for Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party
  • 4.18% for Pol Gen Seree Temeeyaves of the Seri Ruam Thai Party
  • 3.18% for Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party
  • 1.91% no answer or not interested
  • 1.27% for Wan Muhamad Nor Matha of the Prachachart Party
  • 3.64% combined for Somkid Jatusripitak (Sang Anakhot Thai), Kanchana Silpa-archa (Chartthaipattana), Cholnan Srikaew (Pheu Thai), Warong Dechgitvigrom (Thai Pakdee), Abhisit Vejjajiva (Democrat), Mongkolkit Suksintaranon (Thai Civilised), Mingkhwan Saengsuwan (Palang Pracharath), Chuan Leekpai (Democrat), Pirapan Salirathavibhaga (United Thai Nation) and Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt.Asked from which party they would vote for constituency MPs, the Democrat Party came first with 23.46%, followed by Pheu Thai (19%), United Thai Nation (15.91%), Move Forward (13.45%), Bhumjaithai (7.55%), still undecided (4.73%), Chart Pattanakla (4.64%), Palang Pracharath (3.18%), Seri Ruam Thai (2.45%), Thai Sang Thai (1.45%), Kla (1.27%), Prachachart (1%), and 1.91% combined for Thai Pakdee, Sang Anakhot, Chartthaipattana, Thai Civilised, Pheu Chart, Thai Economy and those with no answer or who were not interested.

  Asked which party they would vote for in the party-list MP system, the Democrat Party came first with 22.91%, followed by Pheu Thai (20.09%), United Thai Nation (17.18%), Move Forward (13.18%), Bhumjaithai (7.09%), Chart Pattanakla (5.18%), still undecided (4.09%), Seri Ruam Thai (3.00%), Palang Pracharath (2.46%), Thai Sang Thai (1.55%), Kla (1.09%) and Prachachart (1.09%). The rest were for Thai Pakdee, Chartthaipattana, Sang Anakhot Thai, Thai Civilised and those with no answer or who were not interested.

The 68 year old prime minister was admitted to hospital on Friday after he complained of a swollen hand.

Doctors at the hospital identified an unidentified abnormality during the examination of the swollen hand and decided to keep him overnight for observation.

It was suggested that PM Prayut was suffering from pseudogout. Pseudogout is a form of arthritis that occurs due to the build up of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) and is not caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood.

Symptoms of CPPD can cause pain, stiffness, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling in some joints, commonly affecting the knees and wrists.

However, the doctor who provided the surgery, Maj-Gen Dr Thamrongroj Temudom, ruled out pseudogout.

An MRI scan revealed a problematic lymph node in the right hand.

Dr Thamrongroj stated that the prime minister was advised to rest his right hand for a while to recover. The lymph node was sent for lab tests.

Meanwhile, the prime minister expressed his gratitude to the media and thanked the public for their concern for his well-being.