Mystery over lady in waiting

PHUKET: Nearly two weeks after the Central Election Committee (CEC) in Bangkok unofficially announced Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr as the winner of the March 14 Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Presidential election, she has yet to receive official confirmation. The delay leaves K. Anchalee as the only person on the 24-member Democrat-dominated body who has not yet received formal confirmation from the CEC of her election victory. All the other OrBorJor members’ seats were officially confirmed in an announcement in Phuket on April 26. Dr Prapa Kayee, Chairman of Phuket Election Commision (PEC), told the Gazette yesterday, “The CEC approved K. Anchalee as President days ago. They should send [the formal declaration] as soon as possible.” Despite repeated attempts, the Gazette was unable to contact either the Chairman or the Secretary of the CEC for an explanation of the delay in sending K. Anchalee’s confirmation. However, a CEC officer, who asked not to be named, said that the CEC had sent the formal declaration via express mail “two or three days ago”. In defence of the CEC, Dr Prapa said, “Many provinces are experiencing the same problem because every province except Bangkok held elections on March 14. So all we can do is wait.” But no one at the CEC could explain why confirmation of K. Anchalee’s election was taking so much longer to reach Phuket than those of the other 24 members of the OrBorJor. Once the PEC does receive the written confirmation, it will in turn inform K. Anchalee, formally, of her victory. She then has 15 days to declare herself President of the OrBorJor. Until the formal declaration arrives, OrBorJor Chief Administration Officer Somsak Thitipruttikul continues in his role as Acting President.