Thai PM gets a drenching in surprise water fight appearance

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the prime ministerial candidate from the United Thai Nation Party (Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party), plays with water as he celebrates the Songkran holiday which marks the Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, April 14, 2023. United Nation Thai Party/Handout via REUTERS

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha got a soaking on Friday as a surprise participant in one of the world's biggest water fights, showing no signs of any dampened spirits from a slump in popularity just weeks from an election.

Dressed in the bright Hawaiian shirt traditionally worn at the Thai New Year festival Songkran, Prayuth showed up unannounced at Bangkok's famous Khaosan Road and was the instant target of throngs of revellers armed with buckets and water guns.