Bannawit cancels partylist candidacy

He said he resigned on Monday but received the green light late Tuesday's afternoon not in time to put his name in the party list of Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana Party.

"By the time I got an approval to leave the millitary service, the party had already completed its list of candidates for proportionate vote," he said.

He said he was not ready to run for a House seat via a direct vote, hence he decided to abandon the launch of his political career.

He said he would devote full attention to duties in the National Legislative Assembly.

Many see Bannawit as executing a facesaving ploy to exit his military career amid myriad disciplinary probes for airing critical views against the junta and its interim government.

Under the election law, soldiers and civilians are entitled to resign office to join the race without being blocked.

The Nation