commander-in-chief, left the army and formed a new nationwide political party to contest the elections, Following the coup, the military leaders sponsored the formation of a political party with a platform of defending military interests within the democrati process. Third, the military leaders have initiated internal research and debate on mapping options for the future course for the military, including options which would mark a significant withdrawal from the political arena. The rise of the corruption issue might be imagined to have some impact on popular attitudes towards democracy and democratic processes. The coup leaders invested considerable efforts in portraying the previous civilian government unusually corrupt. In the run-up to the March 1992 for a new parliament, the military leaders orchestrated a campaign t draw attention to vote buying and other forms of corruption in the election process. The polls in March and September 1992. however, gave little evidence of growing disaffection with democratic processes. The polls were hotly contested Campaign strategies and voting patterns followed party lines to a larger degree than in previous elections. The percentage turnouts were high in relation to previous elections There was, however, very clear difference voting preference between Bangkok and the rest of the country. In the March election, Bangkok voters plumped overwhelmingly for the political leader (Chamlong) who promoted himself as a Mr Clean, whose campaign visual was a cartoon of himself holding a broom, and who campaigned on the basis of his corruption-free track record as mayor of Bangkok His party won 32 of the 35 seats in the capital Upcountry voters still largely selected their local jao pho. This could be interpreted in many ways, including the continued importance of money at the polling booth However to some extent it demonstrates the continued desire the upcountry voter to cast his vote for a big man', partly as token of respect for his local power, partly in the hope that he would be powerful enough to bring benefits back from Bangkok to the locality