By Thai Newsroom Reporters
IN WHAT WAS SEEN as an early part of preparations for renegade MPs to contest the next general election, a trio of elected lawmakers representing southern constituencies will likely depart an ultra-conservative party for another despite both being currently in government.
Ruam Thai Sang Chart MP Supol Julsai is largely anticipated to skip over from the divided coalition partner to the Bhumjaithai steered by de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, given the current circumstances under which the Ruam Thai Sang Chart previously influenced by former de facto party boss Prayut Chan-o-cha are ostensibly disintegrating and split into factions practically independent of one another, according to partisan sources.
Alongside Supol who currently represents one constituency of Chumporn, two other Ruam Thai Sang Chart MPs representing those of the same southern province are more or less speculated to jump onto the Bhumjaithai bandwagon well before Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolves the House of Representatives to call a general election in a 60-day time as provided by law. Electoral contestants are required by law to have registered themselves for membership of a certain party for a minimum of 90 days prior to the election date.
Given “the Chumporn model” of partisan defection, many more constituencies throughout the southern region will likely see concerted exoduses of not only the MPs of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart but the Democrat, the country’s oldest party which had prevailed over most of the southern constituencies during the last several decades, whilst the previously ruling Pheu Thai under de facto party boss-turned-inmate Thaksin Shinawatra had totally failed to grab a single southern MP seat in previous elections and odds are the likelihood of their being outvoted again in the next.
Largely attributed to the planned departure of those Ruam Thai Sang Chart MPs to Newin’s party is the sustained phenomenon in which the rank and file of the military-installed, ultra-conservative camp are ultimately divided into a trio of factions including one under Ruam Thai Sang Chart leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, one headed by Ruam Thai Sang Chart secretary-general Akanat Prompan and one headed by Suchart Chomklin, according to the partisan sources.
Akanat’s and Suchart’s factions would ultimately conclude that the previous leadership of the former army chief-turned-prime minister Prayut, currently a privy councilor, could not be of much help for them any longer, prompting themselves to jump ship and defect to Newin’s camp under whose tickets they will contest the next election.
Though most southern constituents picked the Ruam Thai Sang Chart candidates for MPs in the last election primarily for the sake of Prayut who was then contesting for prime minister, they will likely turn to the likes of the Bhumjaithai which apparently share the ultra-conservatism now that he is no longer in the political arena, one partisan source said.
Of all 36 Ruam Thai Sang Chart MPs, 33 cast their votes in support of Anutin for prime minister, leaving only three attached to Pirapan’s faction awkwardly abstaining, albeit to no avail.
Both Akanat and Suchart whose protege MPs had joined ranks with many others to vote Anutin or prime minister earlier this month are anticipated to take ministerial seats in the latest cabinet lineup speculated to be forwarded to His Majesty the King for formal endorsement today (Sep.16).
Remarkably, the Bhumjaithai will likely see the Palang Pracharath, partner of the current coalition led by Prawit Wongsuwan, as their archrivals contesting all 60 southern constituencies in the next election whereas the Ruam Thai Sang Chart and Democrats might probably grab a few.
The four Democrat MPs who broke ranks with their partisan colleagues to cast yea votes for the Bhumjaithai leader for prime minister could probably leave their current party, now being part of the opposition bloc, for Newin’s camp as well. All the renegade Democrat MPs currently represent southern constituencies of Songkhla, Pattalung and Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
That the Democrats are bound to name a new party leader next month to replace Chalermchai Sri-on who has recently resigned would not substantially restore their popularity among the southern constituents which had prevalently thrived in the time of former prime minister Chuan Leekpai but has exponentially declined since.
Remarkably, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn who is largely speculated to be named a minister in the Anutin cabinet and to take charge of Bhumjaithai electoral campaigns for the southern region would be more than willing to muster practical support, albeit in hush-hush fashion for the time being, from among prospective renegade MPs representing southern constituencies though they are currently, legally attached to other camps.
CAPTION:
Ruam Thai Sang Chart MP Supol Julsai. Top photo: Naewna, Front Page photo: Facebook
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