The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has allowed political parties access to major public parks, an open plaza and sports grounds for poll campaigning, while Bangkok's election office announced locations where campaign posters can be installed.
Most public parks are on the Phra Nakhon side while the others are on the Thon Buri side of Bangkok, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said Thursday.
The plaza is located on the grounds of Lan Khon Muang in Phra Nakhon district.
The parks are: Chatuchak, Queen Sirikit Park and Wachirabenchathat Park, all in Chatuchak district; Lumpini in Pathumwan, Benchasiri in Klong Toey, Seri Thai in Bung Kum, Phra Nakhon in Lat Krabang, Sukkhaphap in Prawet, Raminthra Sports Park in Bang Khen, Rama VIII in Bang Phlat, a park in front of The Mall Bang Khae department store in Bang Khae, and Wong Wian Yai in Thon Buri.
Chaloemphrakiat sports centre in Thung Khru district and Rama IX Bridge youth centre in Rat Burana were also opened to campaigning.
Pol Gen Aswin said campaign posters must be approved either by the BMA or the election office.
The BMA allows the Lan Khon Muang ground outside City Hall and 50 district offices to be used for installing election campaign posters.
The list of places designated for putting up posters can be found on the Bangkok poll office website, the governor said.
Every agency under the BMA has been instructed to ensure parties have equal access to the spaces it allows for posters, he said.
Bangkok's election office has published more details on this on its website (www.ect.go.th/bangkok) and at every district office, according to Witchuda Mekhanuwong, director of the office.
More importantly, she stressed, election candidates are liable for ensuring they strictly comply with the Election Commission's regulations regarding the size and number of posters allowed, which vary, she said.
The election law requires that the number of campaign posters must not exceed twice the number of polling stations in a particular constituency, she said.
The office said earlier that the posters must adhere to size restrictions outlined by the regulations -- which are 30cmx42cm, 130cmx245cm and 400x750cm.
In Bangkok, parties may put up no more than 270 small posters, 540 medium-sized posters and one large poster per district. Ms Witchuda said candidates who exceed this quota may face jail terms of up to six months, and/or a maximum fine of 10,000 baht.
Bangkok's election commission will dispatch inspection teams to ensure all parties conform to the law, she said. Violators will receive a warning first, she added.
If not resolved, Bangkok's election office will remove the posters and pursue punitive measures. Posters in places that block motorists' views or endanger pedestrians are banned.
