PPP not sure of a sweep in Samut Sakhon

General News - Sunday December 16, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

PPP not sure of a sweep in Samut Sakhon

Economy the big issue for voters

By Surasak Glahan

The People Power party's (PPP) vow to bring back ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra is not the party's selling point in Samut Sakhon, where the PPP is thought unlikely to win by a landslide. In the 2005 election, Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party snatched all three parliamentary seats in this small, densely populated province from the Democrat party, which won two seats at the 2001 poll.

Suppasitr Nuantarnworachart, chairman of Samut Sakhon Chamber of Commerce, said people there had other bigger and more important concerns than the issue of bringing back Mr Thaksin.

Voters in the province, where the largest revenue is from the industry sector, support candidates capable of solving economic problems like the rising oil prices and the stronger baht, said Mr Suppasitr, who is also chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

The TRT-reincarnated PPP is fielding three candidates this time as a family package, which sees four-time MP Monthol Kraiwatnussorn running alongside his two children, one-time MP Anusorn and first-timer Urai.

Mr Monthol has not run for election since 1996. His brother Udom, a four-time MP, is not running this time as he is one of the banned TRT executives.

But Mr Suppasitr said the PPP is likely to secure only one seat for Mr Monthol, largely because he is the most well-known and politically well connected there. The fact that he did not run in earlier elections but directed his support for his brother and his son enabled the two to emerge as winners.

The Kraiwatnussorn family has to compete with two strong contenders _ one-time MP Sutham Rahong of the Democrat party and Supapornphong Chuanboon of the Matchimathipataya party. Mr Supapornphong is a two-time MP who won the 2005 poll under the TRT banner.

The chances of Lt Cmd Sutham winning are high because of the growing popularity of the Democrats in urban areas, he said. Mr Supapornphong is also tipped to win as he has a stronghold in Krathum Baen district.

Another Democrat contender, Kanchit Thapsuwan, is also thought to have a chance due to the popularity of his father, seven-time MP Anek, who is running as the list candidate for the same party.

Mr Suppasitr pointed out that the connections of each candidate with local administrative bodies is still a key factor, and in this case the Kraiwatnussorn family has a competitive edge.

When Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva addressed a rally there, he told the crowd his party would be unable to form a government if it loses in provinces like Samut Sakhon where the Democrats can reclaim victory.

Lt Cmd Sutham and his two fellow candidates, Mr Kanchit and Nitirat Sunthornworn, recently campaigned hard in Ban Phaeo district.

Bangkok Post