Ppp Backs Prapat For Bangkok Governor

[george]

PPP backs Prapat for Bangkok governor

BANGKOK: -- The People Power Party has decided to support Prapat Chongsanguan, former governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority, as its candidate to contest a new election for Bangkok governor.

The party's Bangkok MPs met on Thursday to discuss its candidate and Prapat was the only nomination, Bangkok MP Pairoj Isaraseripong said yesterday.

Suwat Wannasirikul, chief of the PPP's Bangkok MPs, will formally invite Prapat in person, Pairoj said, adding that he expected him to accept.

Prapat quit as the subway agency's top executive to contest the October 5 election for Bangkok governor. He came second behind Democrat Party deputy leader Apirak Kosayodhin, who was reelected in a landslide victory.

Apirak resigned on Wednesday after the National AntiCorruption Commission decided to seek his indictment in connection with the fireengine purchase scandal.

A new election is expected in early January.

Pairoj said the PPP's Bangkok MPs were confident Prapat could win this time, as they expected the Democrat Party's supporters to have second thoughts now that Apirak has been tainted by the corruption charge.

"Prapat has an unblemished record and has never been accused of involvement in any irregularities," the MP said.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democrats will convene a meeting next Friday to select its candidate for the upcoming election, party spokesman Theptai Senpong said yesterday.

The meeting was moved up from the original date of November 24, which is only two days before the start of candidacy registration, he said.

-- The Nation 2008-11-14