Chaiwat parts way with the Democrats

Chaiwat timed his resignation to precede the today's ruling so as not to link the party to the litigation.

In the highprofile judicial review, he petitioned the high court to rule on four legal issues, two of which involved the legality of advance votes cast on December 15to16 and the other two relating to whether the People Power Party was a nominee.

Top Democrats, including party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and his secretary general Suthep Thuagsuban, wanted Chaiwat to drup charges relating to the advance voting on grounds that the party had no policy to question the voting results.

"I am grateful for the Democrat Party to have given me an opportunity to persue my political career and my work is done, hence I resign as promised to Suthep," he said in reference to his agreement to quit if he pushed for the judicial review on the advance votes.

Reacting to Chaiwat's resignation, Suthep said he was obliged to enforce the party discipline.

The Nation