Ex-Democrat MP’s candidacy questioned after being caught playing cards at Parliament

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE ELECTION COMMISSION’s provincial branch of Ratchaburi was today (Apr.3) petitioned to promptly determine whether a Palang Pracharath candidate, namely Chaithip Kamonpanthip, should be banned from contesting the May 14 general election after he had been caught playing cards at parliament.

Chaithip, a former Democrat MP now seeking re-election under the Palang Pracharath tickets in Constituency 3 of the western province, has been alleged in a clip gone viral of playing cards with others in a room at parliament last January during which he was a legislator of the third largest coalition partner.

According to a group of university students who filed the petition against Chaithip, the Election Commission’s Ratchaburi branch will decide very shortly as to whether the card game played by the ex-Democrat MP at such a highly honourable venue was tantamount to a breach of the ethical code of conduct for lawmakers, which could consequently prohibit the alleged offender from contesting the upcoming election.

Officials of the polling agency’s provincial branch declined to comment and only accepted the petition for consideration whilst the electoral candidate in question has already applied to run today.

Chaithip was elected MP in last year’s by-election as replacement for outspoken former Palang Pracharath MP Pareena Kraikupt who was deposed by the Constitutional Court and banned for life from politics due to convicted forest reserve encroachment perpetrated in her former constituency of Ratchaburi.

Pareena’s brother, namely Sihadej Kraikupt, is now running under the Bhumjaithai banners in the same constituency as the notorious Palang Pracharath contender.

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Top and Front Page: Palang Pracharath Party candidate Chaithip Kamonpanthip. Photos: Thai Rath

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