Secrecy Key As Election For Bangkok Governor Looms

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BURNING ISSUE

Secrecy key as election for city governor looms

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The fight for the support of Bangkok's voters has begun although there are still a few months before the next governor's election.

A few well-known figures have introduced themselves as independent candidates in the contest, including former National Police chief Pol General Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, who portrays himself as a non-partisan who can work with any political party.

However, the country's two largest political parties - Democrat and Pheu Thai - have kept their cards close to their chest about their candidates for the election.

Last year's flood crisis has left a negative image for the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The incumbent Bangkok governor, MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who is from the opposition Democrat Party, also suffered political bruises as a result of the country's worst floods in decades.

The Pheu Thai-led government has lost much confidence of residents as well as foreign and local investors about managing water resources and preventing floods.

This is a key issue that Pheu Thai needs to address. The government's Water Exhibition, held at a Bangkok department store to highlight the government's flood-prevention plans and to deflect blame for last year's floods, was completed on Monday.

The administration also began yesterday to test Bangkok canals' water-drainage efficiency in preparation for the water run-offs from the North in October. Some sources said this plan was devised by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, PM Yingluck's brother. The goal is to showcase the government's plans and make up for the bad press and lost popular support during the flood crisis.

Pheu Thai also has set out to discredit the Democrat Bangkok governor and his city administration team.

Pakdiharn Himathongkham, a Pheu Thai politician and a deputy government spokesman, has accused the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) of involvement in project irregularities worth more than Bt1 billion.

He claimed the projects' bid winners were close to certain top-ranking executives of the BMA and he pointed to Deputy Bangkok Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon, the serving caretaker governor as Sukhumbhand completes his term.

Pakdiharn said he would also petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The Democrats and Pheu Thai politicians are trying to project themselves as heroes and their rivals as villains in this ongoing fight, seemingly aware that a "good against evil" tactic often works among the city electorate.

That could be the reason why the two parties have refused to reveal their candidates, although the election is getting closer. They seem to be afraid that their candidates might be vulnerable to personality attacks too early.

In Pheu Thai, many party MPs and city politicians support veteran politician Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan. A source said she recently flew to Hong Kong, where she discussed the matter with Pheu Thai's "big boss" Thaksin Shinawatra. However, no conclusion was reached.

Other likely candidates from the ruling party include Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee and former subway boss Prapat Jongsa-nguan.

A Pheu Thai opinion survey found that if Sudarat did not contest, most respondents would prefer Plodprasob as first choice, and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong as second.

"The big boss wants to keep Sudarat for something else. No decision has been made about [Pheu Thai's] candidate. There's still time left," said a Pheu Thai source.

The Democrats, whose candidate Sukhumbhand won the previous governor's election in January 2009, have not made clear whether to field him again. However, Sukhumbhand has expressed his intention to contest the race, even as an independent.

A Democrat source said the party was looking for a new face although it was concerned Sukhumbhand would split Democrat votes if he contested as an independent.

"But we still have time," the source said. "Eventually, our candidate may be Sukhumbhand."

-- The Nation 2012-09-06