Veteran politician Chaturon Chaisang's defection from the Pheu Thai Party to join the Thai Raksa Chart Party has underscored the former ruling party's election strategy, which is to stem the expanding political base of the pro-regime party, according to political experts.
Under the strategy, Pheu Thai will focus on winning the constituency race as it has been predicted to capture few, if any, party-list seats under the new election system, a Pheu Thai source said.
Pheu Thai is also counting on its "sister" party, Thai Raksa Chart, to bring in the party-list seats.
If the two parties win enough seats, they are likely to band together and form a coalition government with other aligned parties.
Mr Chaturon denied suggestions that he had left Pheu Thai because he did not see eye to eye with key party figures over ideology or policies.
"The country is now at a crossroads. The regime is seeking to prolong its hold on power. The task at hand is how to stop the regime from doing so," Mr Chaturon said.
He said the coup-sponsored constitution was designed to undermine major political parties' chances of winning a majority of House seats, which would hit parties in the "pro-democracy" camp the hardest in the upcoming polls.
The pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) is growing in size and political influence after the Sam Mitr (Three Allies), which helped it "recruit" former MPs from other parties including the Pheu Thai, merged with the party, according to Mr Chaturon.
The PPRP, led by Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana, is accused by opponents of having the power to influence the rules governing the election. Critics have demanded Mr Uttama and PPRP secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong, who is also commerce minister, step down from their cabinet posts to avoid a conflict of interest.
Mr Chaturon, meanwhile, said he wanted the Thai Raksa Chart to be a vehicle for political parties and politicians in the pro-democracy camp to avoid the trap set by the regime.
"We have set a goal of helping the pro-democracy camp win at least 251 House seats," Mr Chaturon said. A total of 500 seats are up for grabs in the next poll.
Also defecting to Thai Raksa Chart were Mr Chaturon's siblings, Wutthipong and Thitima, as well as key red-shirt figures including Nattawut Saikuar, Weng Tojirakarn and Veerakarn Musikapong. Norawich Lalaeng, lawyer of fugitive prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, has also applied to join the party.
The first batch of Pheu Thai politicians to migrate to Thai Raksa Chart included former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan, Worawat Ueaapinkul, a former MP for Phrae, and Kriang Kaltinant, a former MP for Ubon Ratchathani and former Pheu Thai deputy leader.
Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai echoed Mr Chaturon's view, saying that the constitution was not designed "for us".
It was normal for party members to pursue a new political path, Mr Phumtham said, adding that those who have defected did so with no hard feelings.
"I am still confident that Pheu Thai enjoys popular support and will come out on top with the largest number of votes in the election," Mr Phumtham said.
According to the party source, Pheu Thai will not field candidates in all 350 constituencies after several popular politicians defected to other parties.
However, the source said Thai Raksa Chart still lacks people to fill its party-list candidacy slots in order to rake in the list votes.
This is because some Pheu Thai politicians are reluctant to the make the move to pick up list votes as many still feel it will be easier to win votes under the more established, well-known banner of Pheu Thai.
The source said a number of Pheu Thai politicians who lost in previous elections will be asked to fill the Thai Raksa Chart's party-list candidacy slots in order to rake in as many list votes as possible.
Pheu Thai has been forced to revamp its line-up and it is expected that even some key party figures might not have a constituency to run in, meaning they might now have to switch to Thai Raksa Chart instead.
Pheu Thai is therefore likely to be short of star politicians during the campaign which could severely affect its vote tally, according to the source.
The source also said that in the upcoming poll, Pheu Thai will lack key figures who are skilled in canvassing for votes after they have moved to Thai Raksa Chart.
