• 
• 

Published on November 12, 2007

Today is another im-portant day for politicians running in the December 23 election. It is the first of five days of candidate registration.

Meanwhile, a poll released yesterday shows the People Power Party is the most popular in the provinces. The Democrats are top in Bangkok.

Unlike party-list candidate registration that started last Wednesday, a festive atmosphere surrounds registration of constituency contenders.

Party candidates arrive at constituency registration toget-her and use the occasion to campaign.

Registration for all Bangkok seats is at the Thai-Japan Youth Centre.

People Power leader Samak Sundaravej, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and newlyelected Matchima Thipataya leader Prachai Leophairatana are expected to show up at the centre. Although many party leaders are running as list candidates, they are expected to support candidates and do some electioneering.

Chart Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa will lead his team to register in his Suphan Buri stronghold and Suwit Khunkitti, of the Puea Pandin Party, will register in Khon Kaen.

All major parties are likely to register today. Many candidate lists were not finalised yesterday with party switching going on until the last minute.

Registration starts at 8.30am with local Election Commission directors drawing candidate numbers. Assigned numbers were rejected.

But commission member Prapun Naigowit said yesterday if all parties arrived at the Bangkok registration on time, they may be asked to agree to similar registration numbers in all the capital's 12 constituencies. This will cut down on the number of draws.

Candidate numbers are separate from party numbers.

On the other hand, Bangkok commission director Chainarong Thienmongkol said getting an agreement could be difficult because some parties were not fielding candidates in all areas.

Security in the South will be tightened.

The commission's Yala office said supporters and candidates would be separated during registration.

The People Power and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana parties announced their Bangkok candidates yesterday.

Sudarat Keyuraphan, a former minister in the Thai Rak Thai government and a leading member of that party, made the People Power announcement at a restaurant near Victory Monument. The party will field 36 candidates in the capital.

Most are former members of Parliament for Thai Rak Thai. There are some new faces, including Nalinee Thaweesin, a former senator and a relative of former Bangkok city clerk Khunying Natthanon Thaweesin.

Others are Suparat Nakboonnam, a former news announcer on Channel 7, Wichianchote Sukchoterat, a former member of the National Counter Corruption Commission, and Jaruwan Ruangsuwan, a son of former permanent secretary for labour Jarupong Ruangsuwan.

Sudarat hoped for "sympathy" from Bangkok voters.

People Power deputy leader Samphan Lertnuwat thought conflict between leader Samak Sundaravej and journalists would not harm the party's campaign.

Most candidates running in Bangkok for Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana are little known.

However, ML Natthapol Devakula, a niece of former finance minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, and veteran politician Bhichit Rattakul will contest seats.