The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has recruited Gen Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya, a former defence minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, to lead its election campaign in the Northeast, a stronghold of Pheu Thai.
Thammarak: Prawit a 'humble' man
The PPRP plans to formally introduce Gen Thammarak today as leader of the candidates contesting constituencies in the northeastern provinces in the general election, said a source.
Gen Thammarak yesterday confirmed media reports he would join the PPPRP, saying his decision follows talks with party leader, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon. He said that while serving as defence minister, it was he who nominated Gen Prawit as deputy army chief, which put him in line to become army chief in 2004.
He described Gen Prawit as humble and not as rigid as caretaker prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, which is one of the reasons why he decided to join the PPRP at Gen Prawit's request.
In the May 14 poll, the Northeast will have an additional 16 House seats, which gives the PPRP a greater chance of winning more MPs in the fiercely-contested region, which has the most seats up for grabs at 132.
In the 2019 general election, Pheu Thai won 84 seats, Bhumjaithai captured 16, the PPRP won 11, while the Democrats secured two seats. The Chartthaipattana Party and the now-defunct Future Forward Party grabbed one seat each.
Commenting on Pheu Thai's aim to pull off a landslide win by capturing at least half the 500 House seats offered in both the constituency and list election systems, Gen Thammarak said the main opposition party's goal would be out of reach.
However, the party has revised its target to 310 seats. In campaign messages to supporters, Pheu Thai said a landslide victory was of paramount importance as it would help blunt the coup-appointed Senate's influence in co-electing a prime minister in parliament.
Gen Thammarak admitted he could not stop people speculating that he might have a role to play in liaising between the PPRP and Pheu Thai if both parties had the chance of forming a government together. He denied he was involved in Pheu Thai's affairs.
He had previously worked with Pheu Thai when he was appointed the party's chairman in the Northeast.
On May 30, 2012, Gen Thammarak, who had been deputy leader of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party -- a Pheu Thai predecessor -- was sentenced to three years and four months in jail for poll fraud.
The Appeal Court, however, cleared him of the charge in 2014.
