Page 57 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 2 | December 2023 - January 2024

For the laymen among us, can you tell us
a little bit more about what being part
of the district council entails, and give
us your insight into Thailand’s form of
government?
Essentially, in our government, we have
a parliament, which is divided into two
houses: the Upper and the Lower houses.
We have 500 MPs (Members of Parliament)
in the Lower house, 400 representing
constituencies and 100 representing the
party list. There are 250 senators in the
Upper house.

Meanwhile, Bangkok has its own parliament
and 50 districts. In Bangkok’s parliament,
there is a Governor and a Deputy Governor.
Each of Bangkok’s 50 districts has one
representative, who is known as the district
councilman (in Thai, Sor Kor). They make
decisions on issues related to Bangkok; for
example, the BTS, lights, budgets for each
district, the district’s 437 public schools,
public waste, canals, footpaths, etc.

At the government level, we now have
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, from
the Pheu Thai Party. There is also an
opposition party. Whatever the government
does, the opposition keeps a tab on the
government including the Prime Minister.
On the other hand, in the Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration (BMA),
there is no opposition party, but there are
50 district councils, and they keep tabs on
the Governor.

That can certainly be hard to keep track
of! What are your current responsibilities?

Just to reiterate, in 2022, I ran for District
Council. This year, I ran for MP (Sor
Sor in Thai) under the party list quota.
However, I was not elected to either
position. Now, I am appointed as an
Advisor to Mrs. Puangpet Chunlaiad, the
Minister attached to the Office of the Prime I have a vision. For example, the concept of It was an enormous success. The BMA has
Minister. On the government level, we ‘Little India’ was originally the idea of the announced that they will organise the Diwali
manage communications and telecoms Governor of Bangkok, Acharn Chadchart festival every year, in collaboration with IAT.
media, amongst other things. This is one Sittipunt, one which he revealed to me This was our vision last year, and it came true
of the most important ministries because when we were vying for office last year. in spectacular fashion not just last year, but
it handles all the work for the Office of When he became Governor, he told me this one as well.

the Prime Minister. In addition, I am a to go ahead and make it happen. In fact, we’ve already created a whole
member of the BMA subcommittee, and I schedule of Indian holidays that will be held
also have a role at the Phra Nakhon District Diwali is a holiday that brings everyone at Little India. These include Hindu, Muslim,
to develop the Khlong Ong Ang Walking together, regardless of faith or culture. That Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist festivals; such
Street, now known as ‘Little India.’ This is is why we chose Khlong Ong Ang Walking as Vaisakhee, Lohri, Diwali, Ganesh Puja,
the venue where the Diwali festival was Street, which houses the Gurudwara and Kali Mata, Navratri, Eid, and more. This
held for the second time in collaboration Dev Mandir, as the inaugural Diwali way, we are bringing the community together
with the BMA, the Ministry of Culture, celebration location. People had the chance and creating a bustling environment, similar
and the Department of Religious Affairs. to experience the splendour of Diwali
in the heart of Little India, which is on to Chinatown. One positive aspect of our
I’m sure many of us have visited, and Phahurat Road at Phra Nakhon District, Thai-Indian community is that we are very
enjoyed ourselves at, the charming area between 17-19 November this year. Aside charitable. We are attempting to make our
known as ‘Little India.’ In what ways does from commemorating the ‘Festival of Thai brothers and sisters aware of this, so
a dedicated space to showcase Indian Lights,’ it also helped local businesses, and that we can work together to make a better
culture help the Thai-Indian community? strengthened the local economy. place for future generations.

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