Bangkok, Dec 25: One Top Thai politician wears a different brightly coloured shirt each day of the week.Another gets a special blessing from a monk or carries sacred objects before meeting voters. Others consult fortune tellers on how to part their hair, what to ride and where to campaign.
All over Thailand, politicians are turning to magic and symbolism to boost their chances at the general election on January 6.
``You've got to believe in miracles,'' said Thai soothsayer and Buddhist astrologer Attaviroj Sritula.
Attaviroj has lost count of the number of Thai politicians who have come to him for advice, and he says most of them have eventually got what they wanted.
Thai politicians consult astrologers the way leaders in other countries consult public opinion polls. Astrology can confirm existing beliefs or courses of action and builds confidence.
Jamlong Krutkhunthot, a candidate with the Thai Rak Thai (Thais love Thais) party of prime ministerial hopeful Thaksin Shinawatra, recently visited a statue of a famous Thai heroine, Ya Mo, to pay homage, make an offering and ask for poll success.
Ya Mo, who led thai warriors to victory over an invading army from neighbouring laos in the early nineteenth century, is widely believed to confer success on her devotees.
``I've always asked for her blessings, and I've never been disappointed,'' said Jamlong, a longstanding member of parliament for the northeastern city of Nakorn Ratchasima. ``We also got blessings from a monk as well,'' added one member of his team.
Like most ordinary thais, many Thai politicians visit fortune tellers and monks for advice before making major decisions, such as when to marry, move house or even what colour would suit them. Many people also keep and wear sacred amulets.
Former Democrat Party secretary general Sanankachorn Prasart wears a different coloured shirt each day of the week, which fortune tellers say should bring him prosperity and power.
This failed however, to prevent Thailand's national counter corruption commission from banning Sanan in August from politics for five years, for not declaring assets while he was a cabinet Minister in the 1990s.
Some candidates go in for particular behaviour on the first day of an enterprise, believing it will ensure success.
Three candidates for the ruling Democrat Party from Phetchabun province 350 km (220 miles) North of Bangkok, rode an elephant -- the symbol of Thailand -- to register their candidacy for the polls at the local government offices.
They got the wrong sort of publicity, all falling off the elephant when the fastenings on its Howdah came loose.
In Khon Khaen, southeast of Bangkok, Premsak Piayura, a candidate for the opposition new aspiration party, rode a horse bearing a giant syringe as a lance.
He said he was a knight riding to the rescue of Thailand, bearing the symbol of his profession, medicine. His team carried a four metre (13 feet) long python, another symbol of medicine and healing.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
