The Move Forward Party’s victory in the general election has, for many, boosted hopes for the country’s future and the numbers issued to the party and its candidates for the general election are now much sought after by lottery buyers.
It is reported that, in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, lottery buyers are busily hunting for tickets bearing numbers related to the party and its leader Pita Limjaroenrat.
Lottery vendor Siriluck Kamsuk, 59, said that, since Monday, when Pita declared that he would be forming a coalition government and that he will become the next prime minister, the most sought after numbers were related to Pita’s party.
The popular numbers were 31 (the party’s number), 30 (Pita is tipped to be the 30th premier of Thailand) and 42 (Pita’s age).
Even the Move Forward party’s official colour, orange, was also popular, Siriluck said, as it seemed that lottery buyers prefer to buy tickets from vendors who wear orange.
“I will wear orange every day to attract buyers from now on,” she said.
Referring to the number 22 of the United Nation Thai Party, which had incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as the prime ministerial candidate, the vendor said no one wants the number.
She claimed that many vendors could not sell tickets with the number 22.
Some people still want 14, which was the date of the general election.
Chatchai Paisanrungpana, 43, also a lottery vendor, said that the most popular number was 30 at his stall, followed by 14.
Another number sought by lottery buyers was 29, the number of the Pheu Thai Party, which accepted Pita’s invitation to join the coalition.
Chatchai added, however, that sales of the tickets at this time are not especially high, as schools are about to begin a new semester, so parents have to spend money on uniforms, books and tuition fees.
A lottery buyer, who identified himself only as “Yossawin”, said that he had hunted for tickets with the numbers 29, 30 and 31, but could find only those with 31.
“It’s OK. I am happy because 31 is the number of Move Forward Party,” he said.
The draw for the May 16th lottery will be held at the Government Lottery Office in Nonthaburi province, starting at 2pm.
