Democrats gear up for the fray

Four House seats at stake in 4 provinces

Pradit Ruangdit

The Democrat party is mobilising resources to keep two House seats and win two more as a campaign for June 30 re-elections heats up.

Chamni Sakdiseth, the party's deputy secretary-general, said MPs had been told to help candidates contesting the polls in Kanchanaburi, Buri Ram, Nakhon Nayok and Ubon Ratchathani.

"The party has adopted the same strategy used in Phitsanulok. They'll be doing door-to-door campaigns and holding small group discussions. We have to spread around and talk to the people.

Re-elections, he said, were not a contest between the government and the opposition but a battle between individual candidates.

Mr Chamni is the director of elections in Kanchanaburi's constituency 5 where Democrat Pracha Pothipipit, also known as Kamnan Sia, is fighting to keep his seat against New Aspiration's Sornchai Montriwat.

Most of those helping in the province are MPs from the South while Kanchanaburi MPs are acting as co-ordinators.

He was confident the party would be able to keep its seat.

"The voters here feel it is stubbornness of a sore loser," he said.

Kamnan Sia and Maj-Gen Sornchai are old-time rivals and both of them stand a good chance of winning.

In Buri Ram's constituency 2, it is a two-horse race between Democrat Panawat Liangpongpan and a Thai Rak Thai candidate who reportedly enjoys the support of veteran politician Newin Chidchob.

Pornthep Techapaiboon, a party executive, heads the team there with Niphon Prompan, a list MP, as adviser.

Most of the MPs helping out are from Bangkok, the North, and the party list, to avoid causing hard feelings.

"Voters in the Northeast don't like southern MPs much. We have to avoid the so-called sentiment of regionalism," he said.

In Nakhon Nayok, Democrat Vikij Issarasenark is pitted against Chart Thai candidate Wutthichai Kittinaresuan. The campaign is headed by deputy leader Arthit Ourairat.

In Ubon Ratchathani, the Democrats have fielded Adul Nilprem against Thai Rak Thai candidate Kriang Kultinant.