Thai Rak Thai likely to win capital

Published on December 20, 2004

The Democrat Party has made it clear that its main goal in the next general election is to beat the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party in Bangkok.

But its chances look slim amidst an increasingly apparent rift within the party between two main camps – that of party leader Banyat Bantadtan and that of deputy leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was Banyat’s rival in the recent race for party leadership.

Thai Rak Thai won 28 out of

the city’s 37 House seats in the 2001 general election, with the remaining nine going to the Democrats.

The two parties are likely to be the main contenders again in the February election, although the smaller Chat Thai and Mahachon parties are eyeing some share of Bangkok’s election pie.

It’s no secret that the Democrats are trying hard to win the support of Bangkok voters because the past has shown that governments that have failed to win the heart of Bangkokians have been short-lived.

Among these were the administrations of Banharn Silapa-archa and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

Political pundits agree with the saying, “Provincial people select a government and Bangkok people bring it down”.

If the election were held today, the Democrats would be unlikely to beat the Thai Rak Thai, judging from the far-from-outstanding candidates the party is running in many constituencies.

The best they can do would be to retain their current seats or win a few more seats than they did in the previous election.

In addition, the Democrats have not improved much in terms of popularity while the Thai Rak Thai has not fared too poorly among Bangkok residents.

More importantly, Banyat’s leadership image is not promis-ing when compared to that of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Being aware of that weakness, Thai Rak Thai asked Bangkok

voters if they really wanted to

see Banyat as the next prime minister.

The Democrats, meanwhile, have avoided focusing on Banyat.

Banyat, however, has refused to keep a low profile. He dominated the stage at a Democrat function to introduce its Bangkok candidates yesterday.

He read the candidate names himself and heavily criticised

the Thai Rak Thai-led government.

Banyat favoured Pirapan Salirathavibhaga over Abhisit as the party’s election director for Bangkok, although the young deputy leader is considered one of the most popular politicians among the capital’s voters.

Abhisit, meanwhile, has tried to steal the limelight from Banyat, but his efforts have been resisted by the party leader’s faction.

The Democrats are likely to win in 11 Bangkok constituencies, defeating incumbent Thai Rak Thai candidates in three constituencies, and losing in one of their current constituencies, namely Din Daeng.

Democrat candidates have a good chance of winning in constituencies 1, 5 and 17, where popularity has been waning for the Thai Rak Thai.

In the Din Daeng constituency, Pirapan, the Democrat’s incumbent MP, has opted to join the party-list fold. Political newcomer Fuangvich Anirutthewa will take over as the Democrat

candidate for the constituency and will face actor and TV host-turned-politician Yuranan Pamornmontri.

Pirapan claims the Democrat’s popularity in the constituency is so strong that any of its candidates can defeat a Thai Rak Thai contestant.

The claim came after a rumour was circulated that Pirapan was uncertain about his chances of winning.

As the Democrats are trying to settle differences within the party, the Thai Rak Thai has taken measures to retain its current House seats while making forays into hostile territories. Thai Rak Thai Cabinet members have accompanied party candidates campaigning in those constituencies, and Thaksin recently even visited Din Daeng.

Smaller competitors like Chat Thai and Mahachon have fixed their eyes on winning at least one seat each in Bangkok.

Chat Thai has a good chance in Don Muang, where Janista Liewchalermwong, one of its most popular politicians among Bangkok voters, is contesting.

Mahachon is hopeful in Constituency 24, where Samita Sorasuchart, wife of deputy party leader Akapol Sorasuchart, seeks a “rematch” with the Thai Rak Thai’s incumbent MP Watana Sengphairoh, who defeated her by less than 2,000 votes in the previous election.

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

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