Anutin is Bhumjaithai’s sole PM pick

>>The Bhumjaithai Party has decided it will nominate its leader Anutin Charnvirakul as the party’s sole prime ministerial candidate after the next elections, said spokesman Paradorn Prisnanantakul.

Mr Paradorn was speaking after the the party on Friday inducted 34 former MPs who had applied for membership and confirmed their intention to contest the next polls under the party’s banner.

Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul and secretary-general Saksayam Chidchob were on hand to welcome the new members, including 11 from the Palang Pracharath Party, seven from Pheu Thai, five from Move Forward, and one former Democrat.

The defections bolstered Bhumjaithai’s status as a hot property in politics with more defectors on their way, according to Mr Paradorn.

Several other MPs looking to join Bhumjaithai were unable to take part in the function on Friday as they have not resigned from their present parties, he added.

While Bhumjaithai is not hastening prospective defectors into leaving their present parties, Mr Paradorn said MPs were nearing the end of their four-year term in March next year and that party members must get themselves ready for the elections in earnest.

It was unclear yesterday when the others are likely to join.

The party has always been clear that it will nominate Mr Anutin as its sole prime ministerial candidate, he said.

“There should be one choice and none in reserve,” he said, despite the law allowing a party which has won at least 25 MP seats to put forward up to three prime ministerial candidates.

“We’re ready to be the core party forming the next government and so is our leader in taking on the prime minister post,” Mr Paradorn added.

Siripan Noksuan Sawaddee, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said Bhumjaithai is gaining popularity and attracting more defectors than other parties because it is the least at risk of being dissolved, having managed to dodge major allegations during its time in office.

The party also has plenty of resources at its disposal and takes good care of its MPs and members, she said.

She said Bhumjaithai is generally flexible in its political stance, making it an ideal suitor for any political bloc in forming a government.

The academic predicts Bhumjaithai could capture 80 MP seats in the next polls, second only to Pheu Thai.

Pheu Thai sent a petition to parliament yesterday to amend the charter and remove the power of the Senate in voting with MPs for a prime minister.