Young Turk takes on PM’s turf

While Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may lead his Thai Rak Thai Party to victory by winning big across the nation, a Bangkok Democrat contender warns that the premier’s party will lose in the district in which the PM lives.

Bangkok councillor Chakkrapan Pornnimit said Thaksin’s popularity had plunged after the Democrats triumphed in the recent Bangkok gubernatorial race.

“Watch your backyard. I’ll beat your man,” said Chakkrapan, 33, in a recent interview.

Beaming confidence from his mounting popularity ever since he grabbed a vacant councillor seat two years ago, Chakkrapan is now preparing for the big step into national politics.

He is set to run for a House seat in his home Bang Phlat district constituency and Aroon Amarin sub-district, where Thaksin’s family also resides. He is running against incumbent Thai Rak Thai MP Pimook Simaroj.

“I have a chance to win because Pimook has rarely taken part in local community service since he won in 2001,” he said.

Door-to-door campaigning is crucial in the constituency, located in the western outskirts of Bangkok. With its mixture of agricultural, business and residential communities, locals will vote for a politician who they feel they can easily reach, Chakkrapan predicted.

Although the ruling party has tried to deceive the voters by publicising survey results indicating it would win in Bangkok, Chakkrapan said the truth was quite the opposite.

“There’s a wide sentiment that many voters have lost faith in Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai and concerns that the country is moving in the wrong direction,” he added.

Chakkrapan said the recent Bangkok gubernatorial race, which Democrat Apirak Kosayodhin won by defeating Thai Rak Thai-backed Pavena Hongsakul, was the first sign of the ruling party’s sliding popularity since Thaksin took office in February 2001.

Although voters have not shown they would turn to us either, “it’s enough for us because, at least, it’s a good sign that we can challenge them”, he said.

Chakkrapan last year received a doctoral degree in educational administration from Illinois State University in the United States.

Weerayut Chokchaimadon
The Nation