Banharn: Not ready

Chart Thai party is likely to back out of the Aug 29 poll for Bangkok governor, as it foresees defeat from not having enough time to campaign.

List-MP Kobsak Chutikul has shown interest in running for Chart Thai, a party which does not have a political base in the capital.

But Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa said after meeting with key members yesterday that his party was not ready for the contest, which was only three months away.

``It would be worth trying if we had about a year,'' he said.

Chart Thai, however, did not decide yesterday whether to contest the poll or not. Members decided they would discuss the matter with Mr Kobsak first.

``We need to know how ready he is,'' Mr Banharn said. ``If he really wants to go for it, then we will have to see if we can put together a good team that can serve as deputy governors if he wins.''

A decision was likely by the end of this week, he said.

Chart Thai would definitely compete in the next election for city governor in four years, Mr Banharn said.

Deputy leader Somsak Prisana-nanthakul said the party had asked Mr Kobsak if he was interested in standing, without finding out if he was ready.

The party now had to tell him it was having second thoughts as the chance of winning was about zero.

He said Chart Thai, though not expecting a victory, did not want to be badly beaten in the poll as that could erode voters' confidence in the party.