By-elections 'could bring down govt'

Six candidates from the Palang Sangkhom Party, Chartthaipattana Party, Future Forward Party, Thai Civilised Party, Democrat Party and Seriruamthai Party sit up front with key party figures behind at Samphran district office, the venue for registration in the Oct 23 by-election in Nakhon Pathom's Constituency 5. Pornprom Satrabhaya

The upcoming by-elections in four constituencies could lead to a change of government if the opposition camp can claim a clean sweep, Future Forward Party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul said on Monday.

While the FFP is fielding a candidate in Nakhon Pathom's Constituency 5 in the Oct 23 contest, Mr Piyabutr said the party's board has yet to decide on the three other by-elections in Samut Prakan, Kamphaeng Phet and Khon Kaen.

He said the party's board will make sure that its decision will improve the chances of the opposition bloc winning the by-elections and claiming more House seats.

Under the law, if by-elections are held within one year of the March 24 poll, the overall distribution of party-list seats will also be recalculated.

Mr Piyabutr said the FFP is likely to field a candidate in the by-election in Samut Prakan, which was won by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) in March, while opting out in Kamphaeng Phet and Khon Kaen to avoid competing with Pheu Thai.

He expressed confidence that the party's candidate, Pairatchote Chantarakhachorn, will hold on to the House seat in Nakhon Pathom's Constituency 5.

That by-election was triggered by the resignation of Jumpita Chankachorn who won for the FFP with 34,164 votes. She quit as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident during the election campaign.

Meanwhile, six candidates on Monday registered to contest the by-election in Nakhon Pathom with two government coalition partners fielding their own candidates.

The Democrat Party is fielding its losing candidate Surachai Anutto who received 18,970 votes earlier in March, while the Chartthaipattana Party will once again be represented by Padermchai Sasomsap who captured 12,279 votes.

The four other candidates are Mr Pairatchote of the FFP, Sirikwan Yaemmoon of Palang Sangkhom, Lawan Singsathit of Seriruamthai, and Primpang Saengsawang of the Thai Civilised Party. Applications will close on Oct 4.

Deputy Democrat leader Satit Pitutacha, who is in charge of the Central region, said on Monday the coalition partners had initially agreed to field one candidate from the bloc to avoid splitting the vote.

However, he said he had heard that the Chartthaipattana Party could not opt out of fielding a candidate after Mr Padermchai insisted on contesting the by-election.