The United Thai Nation (UTN) Party will launch an "election caravan" to boost its standing throughout the country after the Songkran festival, said its deputy leader Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana.
He said the party's election campaign committee is adjusting its strategy after finding out that Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's popularity surpasses that of party candidates in several provinces.
Surat Thani, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang and Narathiwat are among planned campaign stops in the south where Gen Prayut's popularity is steadily rising.
In the Northeast, the party will make campaign stops in Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen. It will also stop in Phitsanulok and Chiang Mai in the North and in Phetchaburi, Bangkok and Chon Buri in the central and eastern regions.
Mr Thanakorn said Gen Prayut, who is the UTN's chief strategist and first prime ministerial candidate, will join the election caravan and be the key speaker at the rallies.
However, he said the campaign schedule has not been finalised and will be reviewed by Gen Prayut. Asked if the prime minister would take part in debates, Mr Thanakorn said he may consider that during the last leg of the campaign.
Mr Thanakorn said the UTN is also considering setting up a team of spokespeople from various backgrounds.
Chaikasem on the mend
Chaikasem Nitisiri, a Pheu Thai candidate for the post of prime minister, is recovering at home after being discharged from Siriraj Hospital where he was admitted on Sunday, according to a party source.
Mr Chaikasem fell ill and was admitted to Nan Hospital while on the campaign trail in the northern province of Nan on Saturday. He was taken by a medical flight for treatment in Bangkok and admitted to Siriraj Hospital.
Mr Chaikasem was advised to take a break from work to allow for a full recovery but he may rejoin the party's election campaign shortly before election day.
According to the Pheu Thai source, he did not require surgery and he was given medication to dissolve blood clots spotted during an examination.
Tension flares in Phayao
Capt Thamanat Prompow, a Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) candidate in Phayao, yesterday accused the sister of an election candidate of intimidating local officials.
On his Facebook account, Capt Thamanat, who is contesting the election in Constituency 1, said he was alerted to the incident by officials in Constituency 3 who feared for their safety.
Citing the officials, he said the sister of an MP candidate in Constituency 3 had asked them to her house and told them to canvass for a certain candidate in the presence of armed soldiers, which was perceived as a threat by local officials.
Capt Thamanat said he had the names of those soldiers and the units they served in and would submit a report to their supervisors if they failed to step aside.
Candidates from nine parties are vying for the seat in Constituency 3 -- the Democrat Party, Thai Sang Thai, Seri Ruam Thai, Move Forward Party, Bhumjaithai, PPRP, Pheu Thai, United Thai Nation, and Puangchon Thai.
Pheu Thai fishes for votes
Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin promised yesterday to solve the problems plaguing the fishing industry within four years if the party wins the general election.
Mr Srettha said the party would bring the fishing sector in Samut Sakhon back to life as he campaigned in the province with core party figures and Panthongtae Shinawatra, the brother of Paetongtarn, another prime ministerial candidate.
The Pheu Thai delegation met fishing operators who complained about the hardships they have faced in recent years. They said some families had been forced out of the industry due to high operating costs.
The fishing sector also called on Pheu Thai to address issues related to overseas fishing by Thai trawlers and provide more funds for local fishermen.
They said that at their peak, they had been catching 600,000 tonnes of fish in 60 days, worth around 20 million baht per vessel.
Mr Srettha said the party's economic team was up to the task.
