Chidchob family rifts likely to hurt PPP

General News - Saturday December 22, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Chidchob family rifts likely to hurt PPP

SUPAWADEE INTHAWONG

Buri Ram _ Internal conflicts within the Chidchob family could shape the outcome of the polls in this northeastern province, a political stronghold of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party. In the 2005 polls, when then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was at the pinnacle of his power, his TRT made a clean sweep of the seats here and the credit for the landslide went to Newin Chidchob.

Although this time Mr Newin cannot run as he's serving a five-year political ban, he has openly backed the People Power party (PPP) to repeat the success.

Songsak Thongsri, a cousin of his, is running in constituency 2 under the PPP banner.

Mr Songsak is oozing with confidence and believes he and the other candidates being fielded by the party in constituencies 1 and 2 would cruise into parliament via tomorrow's election.

But political analysts argue that although Sophon Phetsawang, a former TRT representative in constituency 1, was expected to easily retain his seat, a tough fight cannot be ruled out in constituency 2 between the PPP and Puea Pandin candidates.

Political pundits believe other parties had seen their hopes rise here mainly due to conflicts within the Chidchob family, which could weaken Mr Newin's influence in the areas.

The conflicts were said to be related to a showdown between Mr Newin's wife Karuna, and his sister Usanee, who are both contesting for the post of chief of the provincial administration organisation on Jan 20.

Their rivalry in the local election has split Mr Newin's supporters into two camps.

The Democrats are hoping that the rift would present it with a chance to win at least a seat here in constituency 3, in which the party is fielding a former member of the People's Alliance for Democracy Chaiwat Sinsuwong as one of its candidates.

A source said Mr Chaiwat had placed his hopes in a highly influential kamnan in Muang district to carry him to parliament. Even former prime minister and Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai and party secretary-general Suthep Thueksuban took the trouble of going to Buri Ram to woo voters on behalf of Mr Chaiwat and his team.

Mr Newin's man in constituency 4 Sophon Sarum, running under the PPP, should be involved in a tight race with Panawat Liengpongphan of Chart Thai and Pornthep Techapaibul of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana parties.

Bangkok Post