Two-time MP Tassanee Buranupakorn’s bid to run for chief executive of Chiang Mai’s Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) under the reformist Move Forward Party has failed, threatening her family’s political grip on the province.

Instead, the main opposition party has opted for fellow Chiang Mai native Pun-Arj Chairatana, former chief of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), to helm its challenge in the northern province.

A selection committee member explained that Move Forward executives favored political novice Pun-Arj over Tassanee’s dynastic influence because the party wanted to develop the city and its people rather than gain more political power.

However, some political observers said the choice was driven by Move Forward’s doubts over Tassanee and her family’s political standpoint.

After being shunned by Move Forward, Tassanee detailed plans to run for PAO chief as an independent in next February’s election.

The 52-year-old said she was focused on “preparations in every aspect” before contesting the poll under a local political group previously headed by her uncle, Boonlert Buranupakorn.

She said Boonlert would aid her campaign but not run for any PAO seat himself as he was preoccupied with his business.

Her cousin, Chiang Mai mayor Assanee Buranupakorn, was spotted greeting convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the patriarch of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, when the latter visited the city in mid-March after 15 years in exile.

Assanee also joined a dinner hosted by Thaksin’s brother-in-law, fellow ex-premier Somchai Wongsawat, in honor of the ex-PM.

Thaksin’s trip was seen as a bid to revive Pheu Thai’s political fortunes in Chiang Mai, his hometown.

Former allies

Elected as Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Mai twice in 2011 and 2019, Tassanee parted ways with the ruling party last August after it pulled out of a Move Forward-led alliance and switched sides to form a new coalition with conservative parties from the previous government.

Previously allied with Pheu Thai and the Shinawatras, Tassanee’s family had long dominated Chiang Mai’s politics before Move Forward’s stunning performance in last year’s national election.

Tassanee’s politician uncles include the city’s former PAO chief Boonlert, its ex-elected senator, Prapan, and Pakorn, its former MP.

The previous PAO election in December 2020 saw Boonlert narrowly defeated by Pheu Thai’s candidate Pichai Lertpong-adisorn, whose four-year term ends in December. Pheu Thai is yet to reveal its candidate for the post.

The next PAO election is expected to be even tougher with the participation of Move Forward, whose soaring popularity in Chiang Mai has come at the cost of former favorites Pheu Thai. In last year’s general election, Move Forward won seven of the 10 MP seats up for grabs in the northern city, compared with two for Pheu Thai, and one for Palang Pracharath.

Political dynasty

The Buranupakorns’s grip on Chiang Mai politics dates back to 1995, when Pakorn won a seat in the municipal council. Later, with the help of allies, he managed to dethrone a powerful group to become Chiang Mai’s mayor, serving for two terms.

In 2021, Pakorn joined the newly formed Thai Rak Thai after being approached by Yaowapa Wongsawat, sister of party patriarch Thaksin.

That led to an alliance between the Shinawatras and the Buranupakorns in both local and national politics.

Since 1998, Buranupakorn family members have taken turns to serve as Chiang Mai mayor – starting with Pakorn (1998 to 2000) and then Boonlert (2000 to 2007).

Boonlert also served as the city’s PAO chief for three consecutive terms between 2008 and 2020.

Tassanee’s brother Tassanai was elected as Chiang Mai mayor in 2009 and served until 2021. He was succeeded by his cousin Assanee, who won the election in March 2021.

Assanee’s two closest competitors were backed separately by Pheu Thai and the Progressive Movement, which is allied with Move Forward.

Family ties sour

After the Pheu Thai-led government was overthrown in the May 2014 military coup, the junta suspended Boonlert as PAO chief and placed him under intense scrutiny.

In 2017, Boonlert, his niece Tassanee, and their relatives were arrested for violating the junta’s ban on campaigning against the draft constitution in the run-up to a national referendum.

However, the junta reinstated Boonlert in June 2018, allowing him to serve until his term ended in 2020. Boonlert developed close ties with certain figures in the Palang Pracharath Party, which was set up to help junta leaders extend their time in power.

As a result, the Shinawatras became suspicious of Boonlert and the Buranupakorns and ties between the two families soured.

They parted ways four years ago when Boonlert contested against Pheu Thai in Chiang Mai’s PAO election.

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk