Veteran Sanoh faces defeat in party-list poll

Today's General News - Wednesday December 12, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Veteran Sanoh faces defeat in party-list poll

Pracharaj unpopular outside Sa Kaeo base

ANUCHA CHAROENPO

Sa Kaeo _ Veteran politician Sanoh Thienthong's prospects of winning a seat in parliament appear poor as his Pracharaj party could lose out in the proportional representation contest, political observers say.

The Pracharaj leader and founder is number one on the party-list for zone 5, which covers his home province of Sa Kaeo as well as Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pathum Thani, Prachin Buri, Rayong and Trat.

There are about four million voters living in the zone and Mr Sanoh's party must get at least 10% of the total votes cast to squeeze into the House under the proportional representation system.

The problem is that there are only 370,000 eligible voters in his political base of Sa Kaeo, and observers believe many of them are still undecided which party they will vote for.

''Mr Sanoh may find it hard to win a seat in the House because he and his party are not very popular among people in other provinces in zone 5,'' said political analyst Olarn Thinbangtieo from Burapha University in Chon Buri. Mr Olarn predicted the 10 party- list seats in the zone would go to the Ruamjai Thai Chart Pattana party, the Democrats, the People Power party (PPP) and Chart Thai, which have a lot of members and strong support.

Nakhon Ratchasima, which is a stronghold of the Ruamjai Thai Chart Pattana party, and Chon Buri, a stronghold of the Chart Thai party, have about two million voters between them.

Apart from Sa Kaeo, the other provinces are political bases for the Democrats and the People Power, according to Mr Olarn.

His assessment was supported by Samit Yensabai, a coordinator of the Agricultural Studies Centre in Sa Kaeo.

This election may be the toughest fight for Mr Sanoh since he entered politics about three decades ago as he has to compete with other candidates outside his political turf, he said, also adding the veteran politician was not popular with young voters in his province.

Realising that he may not enjoy huge popularity with the voters in the zone, Mr Sanoh is campaigning fiercely, with many posters and billboards bearing only his image having been put up along several main roads in Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Rayong.

His party is hopeful of winning one of the three constituency seats in Chanthaburi and making a sweep of the three seats in Sa Kaeo.

In Chanthaburi, the party is fielding former senator Praphan Chuengsakulwattana, and in Sa Kaeo it is fielding three former MPs _ Mr Sanoh's son Sorawong and his nephew and niece Thanit and Treenuch Thienthong.

However, observers say the Thienthong family candidates may not be as lucky as in past elections because this time they face arch rivals from the PPP _ which is fielding Pol Col Wisith Nakata, a former close aide to the Thienthongs _ and the Democrats, who are fielding former candidate Porpol Ekatthaporn.

Voters loyal to the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party would not vote for Mr Sanoh's party because of his decision to defect from the side of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, they added.

Mr Sanoh's nephew, Mr Thanit, shrugged off the criticism, saying his uncle is now working hard to campaign in every province in the zone.

''Mr Sanoh is a veteran politician who is widely recognised. He has been in politics in Sa Kaeo for more than 30 years and has dedicated himself to developing the province and the quality of life of the people here,'' said Mr Thanit, who said he was confident of being elected again even though he is standing for the Pracharaj party.

Bangkok Post