Sondhi will need EC nod to lead party

Sondhi has emerged a strong candidate to lead the party mooted by PAD and pending its members' decision.

Should he become leader, he could also become a candidate for Member of Parliament or even PM.

However questions about Sondhi's qualifications have been raised since a court declared him a bankrupt person in 2000.

The second paragraph of Article 102 of the Constitution relating to qualifications of MPs and also the Prime Minister, stipulates applicants must not be a declared bankrupt or have been declared by a court as a bankrupt relating to fraud.

Election Commission deputy secretary-general Pokkrong Sunthornsut said the EC would look into the court ruling to determine if these stipulations related to Sondhi's bankruptcy.

However, a source close to Sondhi said he had been declared bankrupt - but not as a bankrupt related to fraud. He had completed a three year period as a bankrupt person as ordered by the court.

Seree Suwanpanont, former drafter of the 2007 Constitution, said the EC must study the court verdict to determine Sondhi's bankruptcy status. If he had been declared bankrupt and had completed the bankruptcy period, he could ask the court to have him cleared.

But if he had been declared a bankrupt related to fraud, he would be disqualified from applying to be an MP.

The Democrat Party is ready to welcome the People's Alliance for Democracy in forming a new party, seen as a new choice for voters, party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday.

"I congratulate the PAD and wish to convey my best wishes for it to succeed in the party formation," he said.

Suthep dismissed concern that the PAD-led party might undermine Democrat strongholds. The new party should benefit by offering more choices to voters, he said.

He said he did not want to draw a hasty conclusion on whether the PAD would carry out a dual fight -comprising its street protests and its participation in mainstream politics - by contesting the elections.

The PAD has opposed the charter rewrite, triggering concerns it might resume demonstrations.

The party secretary-general said it was normal for political parties to compete in meeting the people's aspirations, dispelling fear of an eruption of political rivalry.

As the oldest political party of more than 64 years, the Democrats have accumulated the experience to adjust and survive changes, he said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva played down speculation about potential defection of Democrats to the new party.

Abhisit said he was confident his fellow Democrats would not switch loyalty.

He said all parties, old and new alike, should compete in a constructive manner. The PAD had the right to party building in order to implement its "new politics", he said.

He voiced optimism that Democrats would continue to thrive in spite of the PAD's decision to enter mainstream politics.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party voiced approval for the PAD to form its party. The fight via parliamentary means was better than street protests, party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said.

Prompong said his main opposition party still viewed the Democrats as its main competitor, although all political parties were bound to compete with one another.