The race for the Democrat party leadership between former Phitsanuloke MP Warong Dejkitvigrom and incumbent leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will be a competition between “brothers”  without subsequent hard feelings no matter what the result, said Democrat secretary-general Chuti Krairiksh on Tuesday.

He disclosed that  Warong and his key supporter, deputy leader Thavorn Senniam, had discussed with party leader Abhisit of Warong’s intention to join the race.

Another candidate for the post is former deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr who left the party in 2014 to join the military-appointed National Reform Steering Council.  Chuti claimed that the leadership race will be a friendly one and no matter happens, the contenders will continue to work for the party.

Abhisit, who has been party leader for the past 13 years, initiated the idea for the new party leader to be decided by party members in a primary vote. He insisted that it would make the leadership election a more democratic process.   Warong played a prominent role in exposing corruption in the controversial rice-pledging scheme under the Yingluck government.

The Democrat party has informed the Election Commission of its decision to hold a general meeting on September 26 at the party’s head office to discuss amendments to the party regulations.

Election of the party and executive committee is expected to be held in November in a primary in which members of the public will be invited to participate.