Tough job ahead for Yaowapa
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Though the ruling-Pheu Thai Party is certain it will win in the upcoming Chiang Mai by-election thanks to support from many strong factions, people in the province may be getting a bit bored of one clan holding all the power.
Amid allegations that he became a nominee overnight, former Pheu Thai Chiang Mai MP Kasem Nimmolrat’s decision to throw in the towel does not come as a surprise. Kasem was originally chosen by Pheu Thai Party to contest in the election because Yaowapa Wongsawat’s daughter, Chinnicha, was disqualified by the Supreme Court over allegations of providing false information about her assets. She was slapped with a five-year ban from politics and a suspended year in jail.
Before Kasem was given the go ahead, reports had it that the Shinawatra and Wongsawat clans had locked horns over who should be chosen to replace Chinnicha. Now, the clans believe that blood is thicker than water and say the MP seat in Chiang Mai, the stronghold and birthplace of the “Big Boss” Thaksin Shinawatra, should belong to a family member. This decision enraged red-shirt leader Pichit Tamool, but his demand for the party to select a candidate through votes was dismissed.
Party strategists initially chose Kasem, who is a close aide of Yaowapa and Chinnicha, as they believed that he would happily step aside once Yaowapa’s own five-year ban was lifted.
Pheu Thai has a huge advantage over other parties in Chiang Mai. The city is its stronghold and it has the support of local politicians, such as the Buranupakorn family, as well as the financial strength of the Wongsawat and Shinawatra families.
Further, the red shirts have served the party at the frontlines, especially the audacious Rak Chiang Mai 51 faction led by Petcharawat Wattanapongsirikul. The Warorot Grand Palace hotel is used as their base for activities and the local 92.5 radio station is used as a tool to mobilise masses and attack opponents. DJs work in shifts to spread Pheu Thai propaganda.
Another Pheu Thai supporter is PM Yingluck Shinawatra’s high-school friend, Mahawan “Nok” Kawang, who has defected from the Rak Chiang Mai 51 group and established a political group to support Pheu Thai, using local 105.5 radio station as a tool.
In addition, top officials like the governor, the police chief and Region 5 Commissioner all have close ties with Pheu Thai.
But independent academic Chamnarn Chanruang said while Chiang Mai is dominated by the Shinawatra clan, especially Constituency 3 spanning San Kamphaeng, Mae On and Doi Saket, red shirts weren’t happy with the move to field Yaowapa. They want the candidate to be picked via votes.
Chamnarn said that though Yaowapa will win, she would getting fewer votes compared to Kasem last year, as many voters will chose to abstain rather than voting for the Democrat rival.
“Voters believe Yaowapa is imperious and far too confident of her victory. So, history might repeat itself and it might be like what happened with Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen [in the Bangkok gubernatorial race] when Pheu Thai was confident it would win even if it fielded an electricity pole in the election.
Sawing Tan-ud, director of the Social Management Institute, said some 10-15 per cent of middle-class voters did not approve of Pheu Thai’s political games and might abstain from voting. “The vote abstention will not lead to a Democrat victory, as the party is not functional in Chiang Mai.”
