New Delhi: As Thailand’s Anutin Charnvirakul starts coalition talks after securing a landslide victory for his pro-royalist Bhumjaithai Party in the 8 February general election, here’s a look at his political journey.
Anutin’s party emerged as the largest force in the 500-member house of representatives, winning 193 seats based on preliminary results from 94 percent of the polling stations, falling short of the 251 majority mark. Still, his performance has paved the way for a stable coalition government after years of turmoil in Thailand.
Bhumjaithai is now in talks with Pheu Thai, with 74 seats, and smaller parties, including Kla Tham, with around 56 seats, and the Democrats, which secured 9 seats, to form a grand coalition exceeding 251 seats.
Anutin’s rise has been significant in the midst of Thailand’s political uncertainty, marked by ousters, coups, and no-confidence threats, including last year’s dismissal of predecessor Paetongtarn Shinawatra over her leaked conversation with Cambodia’s Hun Sen amid border tensions.
Instability prompted Anutin to dissolve parliament in December 2025, calling snap polls amid deadly Cambodia clashes that fuelled nationalist fervour and displaced over a million.
From business to politics
Anutin, the 59-year-old leader nicknamed ‘Nu’ (mouse in Thai), rode a surge of nationalism fuelled by recent border clashes with Phnom Penh to outpace pre-poll favourites, including the progressive People’s Party, which secured 118 seats, and Thaksin Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai which won 74 seats.
A construction scion and New York-trained engineer, he entered politics in 1996 via Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai party in his early 30s, but faced a five-year ban after its 2007 dissolution.
Anutin took a break to learn flying and volunteered his private jets for the Thai Red Cross’s ‘Heart With Wings’ organ transport programme.
In 2008, he founded Bhumjaithai after breaking from Thaksin allies, building it via local patronage in Buriram into a conservative kingmaker; it grew from 51 seats in 2019 to 71 in 2023.
Anutin served as deputy PM (2019-2025), interior minister (2023-2025) and health minister (2019-2022), but he quit the Pheu Thai government in 2025 amid no-confidence risks.
During his tenure as health minister, in an controversial move, he decriminalised cannabis in 2022 to promote tourism amid COVID-19, but distanced himself from the decision after a backlash.
After the collapse of Pheu Thai, he positioned himself as the next premier and won the position in September 2025.
Rise amid turmoil and conflict
An unconventional political leader at times, he campaigned in casual T-shirts and took selfies with street food at multiple election rallies in recent times. He championed sovereignty, vowing to scrap the 2001 Gulf of Thailand maritime pact (understanding with Cambodia on overlapping maritime claims), build border walls, and keep checkpoints shut.
“Nationalism is in the heart of everybody in Bhumjaithai,” he declared post-win, sitting cross-legged at the party HQ.
Now Anutin eyes a grand coalition with Pheu Thai likely joining for a majority. His plans skip big reforms and focus on practical help, including strengthening the military and cutting energy costs with green power, which will cost $4.7 billion annually.
A saxophone-playing, amulet collector loyal to the monarchy, he positions himself as a stabiliser in polarised Thailand, where courts and coups often upend ballots.
“Bhumjaithai’s victory today is a victory for all Thais, whether you voted for the Bhumjaithai Party or not. We have to do the utmost to serve the Thai people to our full ability,” Anutin told reporters.
Voters also approved a new constitution process to replace the 2017 military charter, with markets jumping 3 per cent on hopes of continuity. Anutin’s victory echoes Thailand’s enduring conservative sway towards nationalism, religion, and monarchy.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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