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The latest border flare-up with Cambodia looks to have given the BJT a big advantage as the election looms $ A recent survey has many voters undecided, but analysts feel things are starting to work in favour of the Bhumjaithai Party

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The renewed flareup along the Thai-Cambodian border has not only shifted military calculations and security discourse but also reshaped the political fortunes of Thailand's major parties.

As artillery exchanges, civilian evacuations, and military reinforcements dominate national news, the ruling Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party and Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul have found themselves standing on unexpectedly stronger ground.

Conversely, the main opposition People's Party (PP), which had been hoping to capitalise on economic grievances and governance fatigue, has watched its momentum stall.

For weeks prior to the clashes, political focus had been firmly on domestic issues: rising living costs, flooding in the South, and intense debate over constitutional amendments.

Polls suggested that many voters were undecided or gravitating toward anti-establishment sentiment. Under such conditions, the PP positioned itself as the voice of accountability, promising a more transparent and reform-minded government.

But the sudden border flareup this month dramatically changed voters' priorities. National security instantly eclipsed economic and structural reform issues, restoring the kind of political environment that traditionally benefits incumbents.

Mr Anutin's leadership has gained new, much-needed visibility after he grappled with an image problem for months. Critics argued he lacked assertiveness on major national challenges.

The border crisis gave him the opportunity to change this perception. His appearances at military command centres, daily national briefings, and visits to affected communities have projected an image of active, eager and engaged leadership.

For many, the immediate question during a security crisis is not ideology but competence, calmness, and clarity, according to a political science expert.