In late July, Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw) Director Yingcheep Atchanont presented evidence alleging that nine Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) figures, including party leader and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, manipulated the 2024 Senate election.
Since then, Mr Yingcheep has drawn both praise and criticism, but has vowed to continue his exposé and urged the Election Commission (EC) to take legal action against those implicated.
If the commission fails to act, he warned, he will publish all the evidence online by the end of this month, amid growing scrutiny over whether the EC will recommend legal action against all 229 suspects involved.
How did it all start?
In 2024, the EC was preparing to hold an election for a new 250-member Senate to replace the chamber appointed by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), whose term expired that year.
EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee admitted it was “the most complex” contest of its kind in the world. The election was divided into several levels, with selections across 20 professional groups, double the 10 used for the previous chamber.
At the district level, three successful applicants in each professional group would advance, or 60 candidates across the 20 groups in each district.
A provincial intra-group election would then narrow the field to two candidates per group, or 40 across 20 groups in each province, leaving 3,080 candidates from 77 provinces nationwide.
At the national level, the 3,080 candidates would enter an inter-group election. The 10 candidates receiving the highest number of votes in each group, or 200 across the 20 groups, would become senators.
Collusion risks
When the rules were announced, critics raised concerns that they could enable collusion, including through the lack of clear definitions for some professional groups.
Parit Wacharasindhu, spokesman for the People’s Party (PP) — then the Move Forward Party (MFP) — said at the time that cross-voting could result in candidates from different professional groups being unable to properly assess the qualifications and credentials of those they were voting for.
A major concern centred on the election’s vulnerability to manipulation by organised groups.
Days before the national-level vote, Mr Yingcheep warned on Facebook that political dynasties known as “Ban Yai” (Big Houses) could intervene in the process.
“Ban Yai can form alliances and even coerce independent candidates … to ensure their candidates secure seats in the final round of the election,” Mr Yingcheep said.
Despite the controversy, the EC proceeded with the election under the previously announced rules, with the new senators announced on June 26, 2024.
Of the 200 successful candidates, more than 150 were found or alleged to have ties to the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), earning them the nickname “Blue Senators”.
The remainder comprised a mix of independents and those regarded as “new blood” senators.
Investigation ensued
In February 2025, Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, then justice minister, announced that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) had been ordered to investigate allegations of criminal offences under the Criminal Code related to collusion in the Senate election.
The announcement followed a petition by a group of unsuccessful Senate candidates, later dubbed the “reserve senators”, who alleged that the election fraud claims centred on the group of “Blue Senators” linked to the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT).
Among them was Pol Maj Gen Kamrob Panyakaew, who criticised the EC for moving too slowly in responding to complaints about alleged irregularities in the Senate election.
On March 6, 2025, the DSI board agreed to investigate the alleged collusion. However, the 18-member board voted to investigate only allegations of money laundering, while the EC was looking into possible violations of Senate election law.
A joint investigation committee comprising the DSI and EC was later established as the 26th Investigative Subcommittee.
Two months later, on May 9, 2025, the EC and DSI said 53 senators were implicated in the vote-rigging probe. Six were summoned for further questioning: Alongkot Vorakee, Chokchai Kittithanesuan, Jirasak Chookhwamdee, Pibulat Haruehanprakan, Wuttichart Kalyanamitra and Phisut Rattanawong.
The DSI also said about 1,200 suspects were under investigation for alleged money laundering linked to the collusion case.
In July that year, the 26th Investigative Subcommittee recommended legal action against 229 people, including 138 serving senators and 91 others affiliated with BJT, including party executives and people linked to associated networks.
Overwhelming evidence
Amid the fast-changing political landscape between 2025 and 2026, little progress in the Senate election collusion case had been reported.
However, Mr Parit, now chief opposition whip, began releasing further evidence of the alleged collusion online around June this year. The material points to links between a group of senators, BJT and bribery connected to the Senate election two years earlier.
The evidence included a video clip showing former BJT MP Supachai Phosu speaking at a celebration for Sittikorn Khongyot, who was appointed a senator in August 2024.
In the clip, Mr Supachai referred to Mr Sittikorn as being part of the “blue faction”, an apparent reference to BJT.
Another piece of evidence concerned a money trail during the Senate election period totalling 860,000 baht, which allegedly linked Yanee Sifa, a member of the Amnat Charoen Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), to EC officials.
Other evidence included a video recorded at a hotel in Rangsit on June 25, 2024, a day before the national-level vote. Witthaya Khampuang, mayor of Phon Sa municipality in Nong Khai, was identified as one of those appearing in the video and was heard telling others to “do it for those above”.
Mr Witthaya later admitted he appeared in the footage. However, he said “those above” referred to the EC, while “doing it for those above” meant complying with the EC’s procedures and timetable.
What next?
The developments culminated in Mr Yingcheep’s disclosure of a call log involving a Senate candidate from Ang Thong, Prime Minister’s Office Minister Paradorn Prissananantakul and BJT list MP Korawee Prisananantakul.
The call was allegedly made at the election venue during a period when the use of mobile phones was prohibited.
Mr Yingcheep then urged the EC to take legal action against the 229 suspects allegedly linked to the collusion case by the end of August.
If it failed to do so, he warned that he would publish all the evidence online for public scrutiny.
On Tuesday, the DSI filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division over the leaking of documents related to the case.
PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut later said the move amounted to an attempt by the DSI to pursue a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) against those who had exposed the alleged collusion to the public.
BJT, meanwhile, expressed concern over the leaked evidence and called on the EC and related agencies to ensure fair treatment for those implicated in the vote-collusion case, despite the alleged links between some of the 229 suspects and the party.
On Thursday, the EC filed criminal cases against 1,767 senators whose qualifications were found to have failed to meet election requirements.
Opposition whip Mr Parit questioned why the EC had taken two years to act.
He also noted that four of the seven election commissioners had been appointed by senators elected in 2024.
The EC held a meeting on the collusion case on Aug 28 as previously scheduled. It is expected to vote on whether to submit the case to the Supreme Court on Sept 14.