Sudarat bides her time, at least for now
Veteran politician Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan recently announced on her Facebook page that she would not contest the upcoming Bangkok gubernatorial election as a Pheu Thai Party candidate, but she did not rule out the possibility of running as an indepen
Her message posted last Friday said, “Thank you very much for every good wish and voice of encouragement for me to contest the Bangkok governorship.” However, she said that she preferred to focus her attention on a project to restore historical Buddhist sites in Nepal. “[However] I will certainly not abandon the work of serving the country.”
“In the Pheu Thai Party, there are many capable persons who are qualified to work for Bangkok residents,” Sudarat said in her Facebook message. “I believe Prime Minister Yingluck [Shinawatra] has the suitable candidate in mind for Bangkok residents.”
Sudarat’s announcement was made despite strong support from the ruling party’s Bangkok MPs and local politicians for her to run under the Pheu Thai banner.
She has been an influential Bangkok politician, serving in the past as secretary-general of the Palang Dharma Party and later as deputy leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party in charge of the capital area. Both parties were once popular among the city’s residents.
In the 2000 Bangkok gubernatorial election, Sudarat obtained more than 520,000 votes, but still could not win. The late veteran politician Samak Sundaravej won with more than 1 million votes – a record.
Sudarat appears to be well aware of her declining role in the ruling party.
Party sources said Sudarat failed to get the nod from Pheu Thai’s key financiers from the Shinawatra clan – Yaowapa Wongsawat, Khunying Pojaman Damapong, and even Yingluck.
The three women have retained their influence over former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Yaowapa and Yingluck are his sisters and Pojaman his former wife.
The sources said their dissatisfaction with Sudarat was linked to a loss of funds set aside for Pheu Thai MPs at a time when Yaowapa, Pojaman and Yingluck could not get direct access to the party’s inner circles. The non-payment of funds almost caused party MPs to defect and Thaksin had to intervene.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, Sudarat’s archrival in the party, also contributed to the mounting pressure against her.
A recent survey conducted by Pheu Thai’s strategist team asked the respondents who they wanted to run under its banner if the party did not field Sudarat. Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee came first and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong second.
Pheu Thai is expected to decide in November about its candidate for the governor’s election, which will be held in January.
It’s unlikely Sudarat will be appointed to a post in a Cabinet headed by Yingluck. The veteran politician, who served in many Cabinet posts during her political career that began two decades ago, would become more prominent than the prime minister, who has been criticised for her lack of political experience.
In Pheu Thai’s recent restructuring to share the Bangkok areas, Sudarat failed to get any executive post. The three Bangkok zones will be the responsibility of Chalerm in the Thon Buri area, Anudith in the eastern area, and Charupong Ruangsuwan in the inner city zone.
Now Sudarat has to rely on Thaksin for help regarding Pheu Thai affairs and she still has his trust.
Sudarat also has hopes for a comeback in the ruling party – if the “big boss” Thaksin manages to make his return to Thai politics.
Some sources close to her said that if Pheu Thai does not field Sudarat in the governor’s election, she may end up as an independent candidate. Bangkok is her only remaining stronghold.
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