PPRP says it will easily claim North
Candidates poached from Pheu Thai Party
The pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) is confident it will win two thirds of 62 constituencies in the North, the stronghold of the Pheu Thai Party, in the upcoming election.
Cap Thammanat Prompao, member of the PPRP’s panel for the election strategy in the North, said his party would prevail in 38 constituencies in 17 northern provinces.
“The party is in the midst of fighting to gain more seats. This is a tough task we are going to pursue,” said Cap Thammanat.
According to him, his party has been prepared for the poll for a long time with experienced candidates.
In nine constituencies of Chiang Mai, people from various professional backgrounds applied to be candidates under the PPRP.
“Thanks to our various choices of candidates, I am confident that we will win many constituencies,” he added.
Cap Thammanat said many applicants were also from the Pheu Thai Party and have helped the PPRP learn the poll strategies and approach of their rivals.
He said candidates from other parties tend to take advantage of their camps’ popularity, unlike the PPRP candidates who have always stayed in touch with the people.
Cap Thammanat was speaking in Chiang Mai where he launched an event to introduce nine contesting candidates for the poll in the northern province. More than 20,000 party members attended the event.
He said that the PPRP would move Thailand forward after more than 10 years of political conflicts. “We are the new way,” he declared from the stage.
He also praised various military government initiatives such as state welfare cards for the poor, the allowance for village health volunteers and new minimum pension rates for retired officers.
Most of the parties’ nine candidates for the region are established local politicians and former MPs from other parties.
Among them are Boonlert Buranupakorn, head of Chiang Mai provincial administration organisation; Pornchai At th apreey an gk oona nd Santi Tansuhat, former Chiang Ma iMP sf or the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai; Kingkan Na Chiang Mai, former Chiang Mai MP for the New Aspiration Party; and Norapol Tantimontri, former Chiang Mai MP for the Puea Pandin Party.
The pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) appeared to be in full campaign mode with major gatherings yesterday in five provinces.
The five events, which took place simultaneously and were headed by key figures, were broadcast live on Facebook and other social media platforms.
The gatherings took place in Chiang Mai, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun and Nakhon Sawan.
In Phitsanulok, the PPRP yesterday presented candidates for the five constituencies of Phitsanulok and another three for Sukhothai.
About 7,000 people took part in the campaign event, which was held at an agricultural marketing co-operative in Muang district.
The attendants carried placards supporting Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to return as the premier after the poll, tentatively scheduled for Feb 24.
Speaking on the stage, Somsak Thepsuthin, who is in charge of the party’s election campaign committee, expressed his support for Gen Prayut.
“When the country is run by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, we are in peace,” Mr Somsak said.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai bigwig Chalerm Ubumrung poured scorn on Cap Thammanat, who he said falls short in political experience.
“I do not give weight to those people who have no experience in politics,” Mr Chalerm, who leads Pheu Thai’s election campaign, told the Bangkok Post. He said Cap Thammanat played a role only in mobilising people to join electioneering stages.
According to the political firebrand, it will be difficult for the PPRP to take away MP seats earlier occupied by Pheu Thai, particularly in the North and Northeast.
“The PPRP will not be able to compete with the Democrat Party in the South or in Bangkok either,” he said.
“No matter how hard they [PPRP] have tried to suck former MPs and exprovincial councillors into their fold, they will still be unable to grab constituency seats in the major regions, which are dominated by other parties with a strong popular base,” Mr Chalerm said.
A PPRP source told the Bangkok Post that the party has been working in the North and Northeast for seven months in a bid to compete with Pheu Thai.
The party now has the upper hand after the government ushered in policies that specifically benefit the poor in the region, which will make it easier to canvass for support, said the source.
The Bhumjaithai Party yesterday also unveiled candidates to run in all 14 constituencies in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the party leader, said all of the candidates are former MPs and politicians well-known locally.
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has urged the Election Commission (EC) to rev up moves to probe a recent fund-raising event organised by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP).
Mr Somchai, now a member of the Democrat Party, said he will give the poll-organising agency seven days to take action or he will file suit against the EC for dereliction of duty under Section 157 of the Criminal Code.
The EC must “take a proactive approach” by asking the PPRP for details regarding the guests attending the event and footage from surveillance cameras at the event, Mr Somchai said.
“The public want to see the EC work proactively and enforce compliance with the law rather than waiting 30 days for a political party to submit details of the event,” Mr Somchai said.
The EC must investigate if the cabinet ministers who are at the helm of the PPRP used their positions to solicit funds for the party, which is prohibited by the law governing political parties, Mr Somchai said.
The PPRP consists of Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana as its leader, Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee as deputy leader, Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong as its secretary-general, while PM’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool is the party’s spokesman.
EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma previously said the PPRP must submit a report on the fund-raising banquet it held last Wednesday, including those who donated more than 100,000 baht, within 30 days.
Pol Col Jarungvith said the poll agency will look into the details after the report is filed but it can launch a preliminary probe if a complaint is made first.
He also played down media reports that some government agencies contributed at the event in which the party claimed to have raised about 600 million baht.
He said state agencies were required to follow strict rules and their spending was subject to audit.
Cap Thammanat Prompao, member of the PPRP’s panel for the election strategy in the North, yesterday said that he had no details of how much money was raised at the event, but he said it was a substantial sum which “demonstrates supporters’ confidence in the party as an alternative for Thais”.
The PPRP claimed it raised 600 million baht from some 200 tables with its Chinese-style feast themed “United Thailand”, in which each table cost three million baht.
The PPRP’s fund-raising banquet has sparked criticism from political parties and calls for the EC and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate it for transparency following reports that government officials and political office holders contributed to the campaign.
Under Section 76 of the organic law governing political parties, government agencies, state enterprises or any agency in which the state is a major shareholder are barred from making political donations or taking part in such activities.
Section 73 prohibits political office holders from using their positions to solicit funds for political parties or candidates. However, political office-holders are not barred from joining fund-raising activities.