By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE KLATHAM, currently a partner of the Bhumjaithai-led caretaker government, will likely come out as the third largest elected party, not the fourth, with some 70 MP seats to win in the Feb.8 election, said de facto Klatham boss Thammanat Prompao today (Jan.26).
The Klatham have primarily anticipated to secure an estimated 70 out of a total 400 MP seats provided in constituency-based mode since the ultra-conservative camp has sent some 140 “Grade A” candidates contesting in that mode nationwide, confirmed the de facto party boss who concurrently acts as a deputy prime minister-cum-agriculture & cooperatives minister.
Thammanat forecast that many of his Klatham contestants running in northern, northeastern and southern constituencies will be elected in the Feb.8 election. However, he declined to predict how many of those running in party-listed mode headed by himself will eventually find their way to parliament. Klatham leader/Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat is also running as No.2 after the de facto party boss in party-listed mode.
The Klatham will likely emerge as the third largest camp after the People’s and Bhumjaithai, one of whom will be the largest elected in the nationwide election, whilst the Pheu Thai will only come out as the fourth, according to the de facto Klatham boss who predicted that the neo-conservative party under de facto boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra will be eventually outvoted by his own in the upcoming election.
Both the reformist People’s and the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai, core of the caretaker government under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, are roughly expected to grab 100-plus MP seats in constituency-based and party-listed modes combined.
However, Thammanat sidestepped the question as to what party his own may practically align to in bid to set up a post-election government, saying such a matter will primarily depend on the number of MP seats that each camp will get and proportionately obtain a bargaining power.
In another development, the People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut insisted that prospective voters nationwide will only have two choices to make on the election date – whether to vote for the “blue” party or the “orange” party so that either one will become core of the post-election government.
In modern-day jargon, the colour “blue” refers to the Bhumjaithai, “orange” refers to the People’s, “red” to the Pheu Thai and “green” to the Klatham.
Prominent members of the People’s rank and file have invariably concluded that their camp will certainly be part of an opposition bloc at parliament if Newin’s camp emerges as the largest elected one with Caretaker Prime Minister/Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul subsequently keeping himself in power and continuing to steer the executive branch.
Former Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat called on People’s supporters to see to it that his party will become the largest elected one scoring electoral victories so overwhelmingly that the second and third largest ones dare not manipulate a competitive setup of a coalition government.
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Top and Front Page – Klatham de facto boss Thammanat Prompao addressing a rally in Chiang Mai recently. Both photos – Thai Rath
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