Move Forward Party HQ at the heart of Thailand's orange wave

Seven-storey building could be home of country's main ruling party, if things go its way

- Tan Tam Mei

BANGKOK - A 30-minute drive out of central Bangkok lies the heart of Thailand's latest orange obsession.

A seven-storey building, at the entrance of a narrow street in a residential neighbourhood, houses the Move Forward Party headquarters. With no large sign or even its distinctive orange logo out front, there is little evidence that this is where the party's stunning win in Sunday's general election was devised through many hours of planning.

The biggest winner, Move Forward claimed 151 of the 500 seats up for grabs in Parliament's Lower House, according to unofficial tallies by the election commission.

Should official results and ongoing talks to form a coalition government support this mandate, the seven-storey building will likely be the home of Thailand's main ruling party.

"I still can't believe the results," said Ms Supapan Palangsak, 52, who manages the shop selling Move Forward merchandise in the building. "We were all celebrating right here that night."

The party's reformist policies, which call for the end of military conscription, legalising same-sex marriage and amending the law against royal defamation, have often been thought to be too radical for mainstream Thai politics.

But after it won the largest share of the popular vote, the Thai people's desire for change is clear, said analysts.