Krabi: The Bhumjaithai Party has set its sights on winning at least 19 constituency MP seats in the South in the next election, tentatively scheduled to take place next year.
Speaking before the official unveiling of the party's candidates in Krabi and Phangnga provinces on Friday, Saritpong Kiewkong, the party's MP from Krabi's Constituency 2, said he is confident his party would be able to snatch the seats as it has done a lot to help local people over the past three years, including promoting important infrastructure projects.
According to Mr Saritpong, the party expects to win seats in Krabi, Satun, Phangnga, Phuket, Phatthalung, Ranong, Songkhla and Pattani.
"We believe we will be able to convince them to vote for our party to effect change in their homeland," he said.
He said the party has put in a good performance to win the hearts and minds of local voters after it was able to win eight seats in the South in the previous election on March 24, 2019.
He said the party was able to commit to and push forward two projects including the successful expansion of a hospital in Ranong and the proposed construction of a sea bridge linking Koh Lanta district with Khlong Thom district in Krabi.
He said the government has currently approved a budget of 1.85 billion baht to construct the two-kilometre sea bridge.
Construction is expected to be completed in the next two years. Once finished, it would cut travel times to 10 minutes or less, he said, adding each boat trip currently takes one hour from the mainland to Koh Lanta.
"Local residents are so happy with this sea bridge project because it will make their lives easier," he noted.
He said his party is keen on mega-construction projects, pledging to build up a linkage of transportation networks that combines road, rail, air and sea ports.
"Let's see what we can do in the South in the next 10 years," he said.