Analysts say his pick will have good chance

Nattaya Chetchotiros and Ampa Santimatanedol

Former Bangkok governor Chamlong Srimuang's campaign to find ''the dream governor'' for city residents is welcomed by political analysts who believe he is not acting at the behest of the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, meanwhile, denied he and Maj-Gen Chamlong were joining hands to secure the top seat. Maj-Gen Chamlong was acting independently. ''He loves Bangkok. He really wants people to have another choice,'' Mr Thaksin said.

The analysts also gave a good approval rating to Mana Mahasuveerachai, a former Si Sa Ket MP and a Democrat party executive, said to be Maj-Gen Chamlong's prospective candidate for the Aug 29 race for city hall.

Anuj Arbhabhirama, a Thailand Research Fund analyst, said he believed Maj-Gen Chamlong was acting in good faith and that he really wanted Bangkok people to find their ''Mr Right'' who would help improve their quality of life.

The campaign had already caused suspicions that Maj-Gen Chamlong may have been working secretly for Prime Minister Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, which allegedly wanted the top tenure at city hall but which openly declared it would not join the contest.

Some analysts said Thai Rak Thai knew it was suffering a popularity slump in Bangkok so it could not openly field a candidate, to avoid embarassment if that person lost in the poll.

Mr Anuj said Thai Rak Thai, however, still stood to gain from Maj-Gen Chamlong's campaign since city and district councillors would head back to meet their constituents to help canvass for the person he supported.

Mr Anuj said Mr Mana, who used to be an MP from the Palang Dharma party founded by Maj-Gen Chamlong, could win because a massive number of Maj-Gen Chamlong's ''loyal fans'' would be more than willing to support his candidate. Mr Mana, however, could not sit back but had to prove he also had all the tools of a champion, including good policies and a good team, he said.

Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, of the National Institute for Development Administration, said he believed Maj-Gen Chamlong would not ruin his own reputation by picking ''a nobody''.

Mr Sombat said Mr Mana was an able and knowledgeable person and so would be ''second to none'' if Maj-Gen Chamlong backed him.

He believed no fewer than 200,000 Bangkok voters were still Maj-Gen Chamlong's supporters so Mr Mana had a good chance to win.

Mr Sombat said the campaign benefited Bangkok people who until now still felt none of the existing contestants was right. Apirak Kosayodhin, fielded by the Democrat party, lacked political skills as he still could not win public trust that he would solve Bangkok's problems as promised.

Voters also had doubts about the vision for Bangkok of Pavena Hongsakula, dubbed ''the angel'' for her assistance for abused children and women.

''No candidate is perfect so Maj-Gen Chamlong's move is not too late,'' Mr Sombat said.

Political scientist Sukhum Nuansakul believed Maj-Gen Chamlong was truly independent from Thai Rak Thai and that he would not let anyone interfere. However, Maj-Gen Chamlong himself had failed before in a Bangkok governor election and that indicated that his political base may not be so strong.