| Introduction |
| Election Coverage |
| Analysis & Party Details |
| Vote Tally: |
| Nation-wide vote tally |
| Regional vote tally |
| Bangkok total vote tally |
| Bangkok vote by constituencies |
Banyat,
Sanan call it quits
TRT landslide sweeps aside political veterans
PRADIT RUANGDIT SUPAWADEE SUSANPOOLTHONG
The Thai Rak
Thai party's landslide victory in Sunday's polls has sent the political
careers of its political rivals into a tailspin, with Banyat Bantadtan
calling it quits as the Democrat leader and Mahachon chief adviser
Sanan Kachornprasart heading for the nearest political exit.
But in a time of crisis there are opportunities for the two parties.
Both the Democrats, whose new leader was expected to be Abhisit Vejjajiva,
and Mahachon, have pledged restructuring and reforms in many areas
so they can emerge stronger.
|
| "As the leader of this organisation, I feel compelled to show responsibility for the defeat, although several factors were in volved in that loss." BANYAT BANTADTAN- DEMOCRAT PARTY LEADER — KOSOL NAKACHOL |
Secretary-general Pradit Pattaraprasit, who also said he will resign from his post today, said the entire executive board should be held responsible for the defeat.
Mr Banyat had announced shortly after being handed the Democrat leadership post in a close race in 2003 with Mr Abhisit, who is currently a deputy leader of the party, that he would resign if he lost in the national election.
The Democrats won 128 House seats in the 2001 election.
``As the leader of this organisation, I feel compelled to show responsibility for the defeat, although several factors were involved in that loss,'' Mr Banyat said.
The executive board was expected to appoint Mr Abhisit as acting Democrat leader. The leadership election contest, which Mr Abhisit is expected to win, must be held within 90 days.
The name of party veteran Suthep Thaugsuban has also already been floated as a potential successor to Mr Pradit.
|
| Above: Banyat Bantadtan announces his intention to resign today as Democrat leader following the party's crushing loss in the general elction. Pradit Pattaraprasit, the party secretary-general, is also to give up his position. |
Mr Banyat pledged the people would be included in scrutiny of the government.
A Democrat source said the party had appointed Kriangsak Charoenwongsak, a social analyst ranked 25th on the party list, to work out reform plans in which advice from the media and public would also be taken into consideration.
The source said first-time MPs such as M.L. Apimongkol Sonakul and Korn Chatikavanija would also become driving forces behind a revival of the Democrats' political fortunes.
Maj-Gen Sanan, meanwhile, said he was at fault for underestimating Thai Rak Thai and had decided to end his political role. He said he had made the biggest mistake in all his 25 years in politics, failing to propel Mahachon to an election victory and even his own son, Siriwat Kachornprasart, to a win in Phichit province, his own political turf.
``I have quit as the Mahachon chief adviser. I believe members will not feel discouraged just because an old man who could not see things through is leaving them,'' he said.
Mahachon won only two seats, according to unofficial results. Maj-Gen Sanan also admitted he had made mistakes by breaking away from the Democrats to form Mahachon, saying that at the time he wanted the new party to wear down Thai Rak Thai in the Northeast.
|
| Maj-Gen Sanan Kachornprasart takes consolation in lunch after announcing his resignation as Mahachon party chief adviser following the party's poor show in the elctions. |
Mahachon leader Anek Laothamatas said he would not cling to the leadership and it was now up to the executive board to decide the party's future.
Mr Anek, however, said he did not want to see the party dissolved as the people would then be left with even fewer political alternatives to Thai Rak Thai.
He pledged full support for the Democrats and Chart Thai, led by former prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa, likely to join forces on the opposition bench.
Jadet Insawang said he would resign as Mahachon secretary-general because he had been unable to ensure the party won at least 50 seats as promised.
Mr Jadet said Mahachon needed a complete revamp in terms of confidence, human resources development and organisational and management restructuring if it wanted to keep its place in Thai politics.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had already made it clear Chart Thai, a coalition partner in his first government, would not join his administration this time.
Mr Thaksin said he had a telephone conversation with Mr Banharn, who told him it would be better if Thai Rak Thai formed a single-party government as it had won more than 370 of the 500 House seats available.
He admitted he had no plans to include Chart Thai in his government even at some stage in the future. ``We have 370-380 votes in the House and that is enough.''
Back to top : Back to the Bangkok Post
© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2005
We welcome comments to Webmaster
Advertising enquiries to Internet Marketing
© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2005
We welcome comments to Webmaster
Advertising enquiries to Internet Marketing