Thailand’s Democrat Party is hoping that the Palang Pracharat party, its coalition partner in the government, will keep to the tradition of not fielding a candidate in the by-election in Constituency 3 of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, caused by the stripping of MP status from Thepthai Senpong by the Constitutional Court.
Democrat deputy leader Nipit Intharasombat said Thursday that he will propose that the party’s executive committee, during its meeting this afternoon, approach the Palang Pracharat party and remind them of the tradition.
As for the Democrat candidate, he said that the party’s executive committee should consult Thepthai, because he was an MP for Constituency 3 several times and should know who is most qualified to contest the by-election.
Palang Pracharat party leader Prawit Wongsuwan said he will have to wait for an answer from the party’s executive committee, when asked by a reporter today about the Democrat party’s wish that the Palang Pracharat party should withdraw from the by-election, tentatively scheduled to take place in March.
A war of words has already erupted between Democrat deputy spokesman Chaichana Detdecho, also an MP representing Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Sanhapote Suksrimuang, deputy spokesman of the Palang Pracharat party and an MP of Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Sanhapote reportedly said that the party should contest the by-election, while Chaichana reminded Sanhapote of the non-compete tradition.
Chaichana cited previous by-elections in Khon Kaen, Kamphaeng Phet and Samut Prakan, saying that the Democrats did not send any candidates to contest those polls.
