The yellow-shirts’ New Politics Party has called a general assembly tomorrow to elect its new leader following the recent resignation of Sondhi Limthongkul.
A source said that Somsak Kosaisuk, the current caretaker party leader, was favoured to take the party’s helm. Fellow co-leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, Chamlong Srimuang and Piphob Thongchai, made it clear they did not want to become party leader and preferred to help with the party’s work from the sidelines, according to the source.
New Politics made headlines by withdrawing from the July 25 by-election in Bangkok’s Constituency 6, just a day after announcing a decision to contest.
The opposition Pheu Thai Party and the ruling Democrat Party yesterday began their separate campaigning for the by-election.
Pheu Thai MPs, as well as party executives, including leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, visited constituents in Kanna Yao district yesterday to campaign for party candidate, Kokaew Pikultong. The red-shirt leader is in remand at Klong Prem Prison on terrorism charges along with other red-shirt leaders in connection with the recent political unrest.
Kokaew has not requested temporary release to join in the campaigning.
Separately, Democrat candidate Panich Vikitsreth campaigned yesterday morning in Bueng Kum district. He said he would focus on making door-to-door visits.