By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE BHUMJAITHAI, core of the caretaker coalition government, have planned to grab no less than half the total MP seats for southern constituencies in the Feb.8 general election, Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed today (Dec.23).
According to the Bhumjaithai-attached Pipat, who is currently in charge of the party’s electoral campaign in the southern region, the Bhumjaithai have been ultimately inspired to score electoral victories for no less than 30 out of the total 60 southern MP seats available in constituency-based mode, given en masse defections of ex-MPs from the disintegrating Democrats and Ruam Thai Sang Chart to the core of the caretaker coalition partners under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob.
He said some 32 ex-MPs who had represented southern constituencies had skipped over to the Bhumjaithai with intent to seek re-election in the Feb.8 race to parliament under the banners of Newin’s camp.
Considered as the Bhumjaithai’s archrivals contesting for southern MP seats are the Democrats who had swept electoral victories throughout the southern region in the time of former party leader/former prime minister Chuan Leekpai over the last few decades and the Klatham under de facto party boss/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao who had practically drawn the affiliation of several ex-Democrat MPs under care of former Democrat leader Chalermchai Sri-on and former Democrat secretary-general Dej-it Khaotong into his camp.
In the 2023 election, the Democrats currently led by former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva secured 17 MP seats whilst the Ruam Thai Sang Chart won 14 MP seats and the Bhumjaithai a dozen others among all the 60 southern constituencies.
Other parties which had also scored triumphs over some MP seats for southern constituencies in the previous election were the Prachachart led by former justice minister Thavi Sodsong and former House speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, the Palang Pracharath led by former deputy prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan and the Move Forward led by former party leader Pita Limjaroenrat.
The court-dissolved, reformist camp which has been practically turned into the People’s had won all three constituencies in the tourist island province of Phuket.
CAPTION:
Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn. Above photo – Naewna, Front Page photo – PPTVHD36
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