Pro-Thaksin candidates adopt his name in Thai election

It's election season in Thailand and a campaign truck is rolling at the crack of dawn through the streets of the northeastern town of Phimai, blaring the slogan "Vote Thaksin, Get Thaksin."

It's a bit disconcerting, since the Thaksin everyone in Thailand knows is former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted by a 2006 military coup and living in self-imposed exile since 2008 to avoid serving a prison term for a conviction on a conflict of interest charge.

This small-town Thaksin, distributing campaign handbills as he walks ahead of the truck, is a 46-year-old schoolteacher.

In this March 14, 2019, photo, Thai women listen as Veerawit Chuajunud, who changed his name to Thaksin Chuajunud of Pheu Chart party, introduces himself during an election campaign in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in exile and banned from interfering in the country’s politics. But his name is a powerful political attraction and in tribute, and to win votes, some candidates in general election on Sunday, March 24, 2019 have changed their names to Thaksin so supporters of the former leader can register their loyalty at the ballot box. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

He happily explains that sharing his name with the 69-year-old former prime minister is no coincidence, and that he changed his former name — Veerawit Chuajunud — to Thaksin Chuajunud as a vote-getting tactic.

Phimai, in Nakhon Ratchasima province, is in Thailand's poor rural region known as Isan, the heartland of the neglected farmers and villagers who represent the original and still largely loyal base of the former prime minister, a billionaire now living in Dubai.

"I want to grab the attention of the people, making sure that my name is easy to remember. I only have one to two months to campaign, so I decided to change my name to be symbolic," said the candidate in Sunday's general election.

In this March 14, 2019, photo, Veerawit Chuajunud, center left, who changed his name to Thaksin Chuajunud of Pheu Chart party, speaks during an election campaign in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in exile and banned from interfering in the country’s politics. But his name is a powerful political attraction and in tribute, and to win votes, some candidates in general election on Sunday, March 24, 2019 have changed their names to Thaksin so supporters of the former leader can register their loyalty at the ballot box. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

The name-changing tactic may be tricky, but it's not insincere. Phimai's Thaksin is running as a candidate for Pheu Chart, one of several small parties established by allies and supporters of the former prime minister.

There is an established flagship pro-Thaksin party, Pheu Thai, but election laws established by the anti-Thaksin military government targeting the former leader's political machine are aimed at keeping any large party from obtaining a legislative majority. So the pro-Thaksin strategy is to splinter the machine into separate parties that could unite forces after the election.

Name-changing is a tactic to help overcome confusion over political brands, especially for the new, lesser-known satellite parties. It also helps to stand out in a large field of candidates. More than 11,000 are registered for Sunday's vote, compared to just over 2,800 in the last election.

In this March 14, 2019, photo, a Thai worker arranges sugar cane on truck in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's populist policies, such as a universal health care scheme and generous farming subsidies, account for a good deal of his popularity in poor rural areas. They also show the people in those areas the gains the political process could bring them aside from the cash handouts they traditionally receive from vote-buyers on election eve. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

Thaksin Chuajunud is one of 15 candidates from his party who made opportunistic name changes. Most took on the name "Thaksin," but four adopted the name of Thaksin's sister, Yingluck, who became prime minister in 2011 and was forced from office by a controversial court decision just before the military ousted her government in another coup. She also has faced court cases that supporters charge amount to political persecution, and likewise fled into exile.

Phimai's Thaksin is on fairly friendly ground as he introduces himself at a local market. It's been more than a decade since Isan's political hero, the former prime minister, even set foot on Thai soil, but he is not forgotten.

"I wish he would come back. I wish that every day and every minute. I don't know how and I have never really said this. I do miss him. I am concerned about him, and I quietly give him my support," says farmer Pajaree Changkodpanao, wiping away tears.

In this March 14, 2019, photo, a man walks behind cows in the field in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's populist policies, such as a universal health care scheme and generous farming subsidies, account for a good deal of his popularity in poor rural areas. They also show the people in those areas the gains the political process could bring them aside from the cash handouts they traditionally receive from vote-buyers on election eve. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

Pro-Thaksin parties, despite serious roadblocks put in their way by Thailand's traditional conservative political establishment, have won every national election since 2001.

Thaksin, who made his fortune in telecommunications, used his money to subsume rural and regional political power brokers into his own party, then once in power implemented generous and generally unprecedented social programs benefiting the rural poor and urban working class, cementing his relationship with a majority of the country's voters.

"No matter what anyone said about him, I always loved him since many years ago," says 59-year-old Nuwate Jiamwong from Nonrung village, another farmer. "It's fixed in my mind."

In this March 14, 2019, photo, Veerawit Chuajunud, center, who changed his name to Thaksin Chuajunud of Pheu Chart party, makes his election campaign in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in exile and banned from interfering in the country’s politics. But his name is a powerful political attraction and in tribute, and to win votes, some candidates in general election on Sunday, March 24, 2019 have changed their names to Thaksin so supporters of the former leader can register their loyalty at the ballot box. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

Thaksin's populist policies, such as a universal health care scheme and generous farming subsidies, account for a good deal of his popularity in poor rural areas. They also show the people in those areas the gains the political process could bring them aside from the cash handouts they traditionally receive from vote-buyers on election eve.

Virot Ali, a political science lecturer at Bangkok's Thammasat University, says he believes people in the countryside still think of Thaksin as the main person who guided the economy in the interests of the rural sector, as well as gave them confidence that democracy could work to their benefit.

Thaksin's populist policies assured him large electoral majorities, but also alienated the country's traditional power-holders — royalists, the military and their Bangkok middle-class supporters. The 2006 coup that ousted him, after accusations of abuse of power and disrespect toward the monarchy, set off a battle for power between his supporters and opponents that sparked sporadic mass street violence and triggered the army's second coup in 2014.

In this March 14, 2019, photo, Veerawit Chuajunud, right, who changed his name to Thaksin Chuajunud of Pheu Chart party, makes his election campaign in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in exile and banned from interfering in the country’s politics. But his name is a powerful political attraction and in tribute, and to win votes, some candidates in general election on Sunday, March 24, 2019 have changed their names to Thaksin so supporters of the former leader can register their loyalty at the ballot box. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

The anti-democratic measures still being taken by Thaksin's opponents to thwart his political comeback — changes to the constitution that offset the direct election of legislators and limit the power of elected lawmakers — are a measure of what Thaksin's supporters are up against.

Phimai candidate Thaksin says he's up for the challenge.

"I know that changing my name does not mean that I will automatically win," he says. "I still have to work hard, visiting and working continuously for the community."

In this March 14, 2019, photo, a Thai woman on a bicycle moves past the posters of Pheu Chart party's Veerawit Chuajunud, left, who changed his name to Thaksin Chuajunud, and Pracha Pracharat Party's candidate and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left on right poster, during an election campaign in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in exile and banned from interfering in the country’s politics. But his name is a powerful political attraction and in tribute, and to win votes, some candidates in general election on Sunday, March 24, 2019 have changed their names to Thaksin so supporters of the former leader can register their loyalty at the ballot box. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

In this March 14, 2019, photo, Nuwate Jiamwong, 59-year-old farmer, points at an image of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on a calendar in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in exile and banned from interfering in the country’s politics. But his name is a powerful political attraction and in tribute, and to win votes, some candidates in general election on Sunday, March 24, 2019 have changed their names to Thaksin so supporters of the former leader can register their loyalty at the ballot box. "No matter what anyone said about him, I always loved him since many years ago," says the farmer. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

In this March 14, 2019, photo, Nuwate Jiamwong, 59-year-old farmer, talks to The Associated Press during an interview as the farmer holds a calendar with a picture of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on it, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in exile and banned from interfering in the country’s politics. But his name is a powerful political attraction and in tribute, and to win votes, some candidates in general election on Sunday, March 24, 2019 have changed their names to Thaksin so supporters of the former leader can register their loyalty at the ballot box. "No matter what anyone said about him, I always loved him since many years ago," says the farmer. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

In this March 14, 2019, photo, Veerawit Chuajunud, center, who changed his name to Thaksin Chuajunud of Pheu Chart party, introduces himself during an election campaign in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in exile and banned from interfering in the country’s politics. But his name is a powerful political attraction and in tribute, and to win votes, some candidates in general election on Sunday, March 24, 2019 have changed their names to Thaksin so supporters of the former leader can register their loyalty at the ballot box. (AP PhotoSakchai Lalit)

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball is changing at a dizzying speed in 2026 with the arrival of robot umpires, the return home of the Tampa Bay Rays and an alphabet soup of networks televising games in perhaps the last season before a labor shutdown.

Much has transpired in the 4 1/2 months since the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied in World Series Game 7 to beat Toronto in 11 innings and become the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.

There was the usual free agent musical chairs that saw Kyle Tucker wind up with the Dodgers, Bo Bichette with the New York Mets, Alex Bregman with the Chicago Cubs and Pete Alonso with the Baltimore Orioles.

Venezuela became a first-time champion of a World Baseball Classic with record attendance and television viewers.

But looming above the usual excitement for opening day on Wednesday is the possibility of no games in a year.

Tony Clark was forced to resign as players' association head and replaced by Bruce Meyer as talk intensified about a possible management salary cap proposal the players' association vows to fight. Major League Baseball is likely to lock out players on Dec. 2, leaving 2027 in limbo.

Cy Young Award winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal are on the eight-man executive subcommittee that directs collective bargaining.

“We need people that are invested and kind of have status among players and within the game to go into the negotiations and be comfortable going toe to toe with the owners,” Skenes said. “It's not something that I sought out. Some guys nominated me for the position and that’s not something you say no to.”

Following testing that started in the minor leagues in 2019, MLB decided last September to use the Automated Ball-Strike System in the regular season.

While human umps call every pitch, each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game, retaining the challenge if successful, and has the possibility of at least one more in each extra inning.

“You want get the egregiously wrong calls fixed and you want make sure you get it right in a big spot,” three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander said.

ABS won't be used for a two-game series between Arizona and San Diego in Mexico City on April 25-26, for the Philadelphia-Minnesota game at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, on Aug. 13 or the Atlanta-Milwaukee matchup in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 23.

Regular-season national broadcasts are split among Fox/FS1, TBS, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, AppleTV and Netflix. NBC's networks take over the Wild Card Series from ABC/ESPN.

In addition, MLB will produce and distribute the local telecasts of 14 teams following the financial problems of Main Street Sports Group, which operates the regional FanDuel Sports Network stations.

When the New York Yankees play the MLB season opener at the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, the game will be exclusively on Netflix.

After becoming the first team to win consecutive championships since the 1998-2000 Yankees, the Dodgers try to become just the fifth group to win three in a row, joining those Yankees, five by the 1949-53 Yankees, four by the 1936-39 Yankees and three by the 1972-74 Oakland Athletics.

“When you're a Dodger, people want to take us down. They want to beat us,” manager Dave Roberts told players in his spring training speech. “It's a Game 7. So I think that we've got to look ahead and say that this is going to be harder than it's ever been and we got to work even harder. And so my ask as a team, as an organization is to push ourselves even more. We already got the talent. There isn't any more talent in a major league clubhouse than in this room.”

Coming off his fourth unanimous MVP award, Shohei Ohtani is expected to be a two-way player over a full season. He returned to the mound last June 16 following his second major elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023.

Tampa Bay returns to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg after a season playing home games across the bay at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the Yankees.

Damage to the Trop caused by Hurricane Milton in October 2024 has been repaired. The Rays were 41-40 at Steinbrenner last year, their lowest home winning percentage since 2016. They drew 786,750 for an average of 9,713, selling out 61 games.

“There is genuine, authentic excitement to get back to the Trop,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We've played well in the Trop. We’ve had a lot of success in the Trop. And I think we’re going back to something that’s probably going to be a little bit newer, a little better than maybe as we left it because they had to do so many repairs.”

Four players could reach 400 career home runs this year.

Manny Machado starts the season at 369, followed by Freddie Freeman at 368, Aaron Judge at 367 and Bryce Harper at 363.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)