Samak splits loyalties in TRT stronghold

General News : Monday December 10, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Samak splits loyalties in TRT stronghold

He is no match for Thaksin, say loyalists

MANOP THIP-OSOD

Roi Et _ The House seats in Roi Et are likely to end up with several parties as constituents still love Thai Rak Thai founder Thaksin Shinawatra, but dislike his nominee Samak Sundaravej. Roi Et was once represented solely by the now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, thanks mainly to the popularity of then prime minister Thaksin, who launched a nationwide poverty-reduction scheme in At Samat district early last year.

People say they still love Mr Thaksin because they liked his policies. And on the party list they are likely to vote for the People Power party (PPP), which promises to revive his policies.

''People here love Mr Thaksin because he was a humble prime minister,'' said Somchai Karndee, 45, a farmer in At Samat. ''He ate and slept here with villagers and made At Samat known nationwide. Whether poverty was solved or not is another matter.''

Mr Somchai said residents would vote for PPP on the party list, but for constituency candidate votes could go to former TRT representatives who are running for different parties.

''People still love Mr Thaksin and want to give him moral support. But in the meantime, we still need representatives we can depend on,'' he said.

''In these circumstances, PPP candidates may not win the constituency race, as TRT once did.''

Suraporn Danaitangtrakul, former senator and a candidate for Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana in constituency 3, said former Thai Rak Thai MPs who are now PPP candidates did little for their constituents under the Thaksin government because they coasted along on Mr Thaksin's popularity.

PPP candidates were in trouble, Mr Suraporn said.

''Villagers love Mr Thaksin but they do not love PPP leader Samak. Not a single candidate in the Northeast uses Mr Samak's picture on campaign publicity. Things have changed for PPP candidates in Roi Et and the Northeast,'' he said.

In Roi Et's constituency 1, PPP candidate Chalard Khamchuang has strong support and should win. Chart Thai's Anurak Jureemart also has a chance.

For the constituency's third seat, a neck-and-neck race is likely between Puea Pandin's Sanit Wongsathanapong and PPP's Seksit Wainiyompong.

In constituency 2, PPP's Sakda Kongpet and Nisit Sinthuprai each have a better chance than Chart Thai veteran Chatchawan Chompoodaeng.

In the other seat, PPP's Kitti Somsap, Puea Pandin's Wiang Worachet (a former MP from TRT), and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana's Wirat Prarasri are competing.

Mr Kitti and Mr Wirat are likely to do better than Mr Wiang, whose support base exists mainly in Chaturaphak Phiman district.

In constituency 3, Mr Suraporn should win but his teammate Annop Pianchana could lose because PPP's candidate, native Nirun Namuangrak, is performing well.

Another native, Ekaparp Polasue of the Puea Pandin party, is fielding his nephew Noppadol Polasue.

By : Bangkok Post