At a press conference held on Monday (Sept 22), Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, a key party figure in southern constituencies and Supachai Jaisamut, head of the party’s legal team, introduced the three contenders, reports the Bangkok Post.
They are former Democrat executive and deputy spokeswoman Ploytalay Luksamisaengchan, former Patong deputy mayor Sanakorn Keesin and former Phuket provincial councillor Wiwat Jindapol.
Mr Suphachai said the candidates would join forces with BJT to secure victory in polls expected sometime in the next six months.
The party had already reached out to potential candidates in all three constituencies, said Mr Phiphat, stressing that transport issues facing the resort island remain a priority.
He pointed to the persistent traffic congestion in Phuket, which he said could be better addressed now that BJT takes charge of the Transport Ministry.
He also highlighted Phuket’s vital role as the country’s second-largest tourism earner after Bangkok, saying the island deserves policies that further boost income and cement its reputation as the “pearl of the world”.
In the 2023 general election, the Move Forward Party, which has since been dissolved on the Constitutional Court’s order and reincarnated as the People’s Party, managed a clean sweep in the island province.
Beyond Phuket, Mr Phiphat said he has been tasked with overseeing candidate recruitment in 14 southern provinces.
He confirmed that several figures in Songkhla and Trang had already agreed to switch to BJT.
In Trang, Mr Phiphat said, former MP Somchai Losathapornpipit has indicated that at least two constituencies are ready to back the party, with more discussions ongoing, while negotiations are also taking place in Nakhon Sri Thammarat and the three southernmost border provinces.
All candidacy preparations will be finalised by the middle of next month, said Mr Phiphat. When asked about the reported target of 30 southern seats, he reaffirmed the figure, saying that the region still lags in infrastructure such as four-lane highways and deserves greater development.
Responding to concerns that recruiting new members now might breach the memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed with PP as a pre-condition for forming the BJT-led government, Mr Phiphat maintained there was no violation.
Candidate selection, he said, was a normal part of preparing for an election once the House is dissolved.
“Every party is already gearing up, I guess,” he said. “It might be a little too late if we wait until after the House is dissolved to get cracking on candidacy preparations,” he said.
Ms Ploytalay explained her defection from the Democrat Party, citing internal conflicts and her admiration for BJT’s swift handling of the COVID-19 crisis while Anutin Charnvirakul was public health minister under the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration.
Mr Wiwat said he was determined to run again after a previous unsuccessful bid in the national polls, while Mr Sanakorn said he clocked up years of local administrative experience and expressed confidence in BJT’s policies.