Prasaeng opts to leave the race instead of facing expulsion

"Prasaeng's membership ended as of Thursday and the party has notified the Election Commission to disqualify him from the race," he said.

Before his resignation, Prasaeng was being investigated by the EC for campaign violations in connection with his distribution of video CDs featuring the messages of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra designed to sway votes.

Prasaeng's campaign attracted little attention as he trailed behind his rivals until he decided to act in defiant of the EC's ban of the Thaksin VCDs. If he stayed in the race and was redcarded, his disqualification might be grounds to dissolve the PPP for condoning the campaign violations.  

 The Nation