PPRP resolves row over poll budget

The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has resolved an internal rift stemming from its former election candidates’ complaints they did not receive enough financial support during the May 14 poll, according to the party’s election strategy panel for the North.

Capt Thamanat Prompow, head of the panel and the MP-elect for Phayao, said he had patched things with the 22 poll candidates who failed to get elected.

According to the former candidates, the party had set aside a canvassing budget for the May 14 election within the legal limit.

However, the 22 candidates were not getting enough funds for their campaigns, which inhibited their winning chances and subsequently led to their electoral defeat.

The group claimed a certain party member had acted as a “broker” and laid their hands on part of the financial assistance which should have gone to them.

The PPRP won 40 seats both from the constituency and list systems, down 76% from the previous general election in 2019 when it gained 116 House seats.

The 22-candidate group raised the complaint with Capt Thamanat through Khomdet Matchamawong, a former poll candidate for Constituency 7 in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Capt Thamanat, also a former PPRP secretary-general, yesterday put the complaint down to a miscommunication problem between the former candidates and the party.

He said he has acted on PPRP leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon’s order to talk to the former candidates. The group and the party have now settled their differences.

The former candidates have maintained they have respect for and trust in Gen Prawit and vowed to continue their support for the party.

Mr Khomdet said the discussion between Capt Thamanat and the former candidates took place on Sunday. “We understood each other better now,” he added.

The group will be waiting to see what steps the party will take to solve the issue with the canvassing finances.

The group held a press conference at the weekend to complain about the inadequate financial support from the party and called on Gen Prawit to deal with the matter.

Mr Khomdet said during the conference that the former constituency candidates were given less canvassing money than they were promised.

“The party was very popular in several constituencies, but some vital financial lifelines were cut off.

“It was obvious we were being left to fend for ourselves. The party has to grow, but unless we clean up our act, the party may never be able to carry on,” he told the conference.