Conservative voters split between Bhumjaithai and Democrats

Conservative voters are expected to be divided over whether to vote for the Bhumjaithai or Democrat parties in the February 8thgeneral election, a similar political situation to that in 2019, when they were split between General Prayut Chan-o-cha or Abhisit Vejjajiva to lead the country, according to former Democrat MP and political commentator Thepthai Senpong.

Writing on Facebook today, Thepthai noted that the upcoming election will be a close contest between Bhumjaithai, regarded as conservative, and the progressive People’s Party to lead the formation of a new coalition government. He ruled out the Pheu Thai party, noting that incarcerated Thaksin Shinawatra’s popularity, the party’s de facto leader, has declined significantly.

According to Thepthai, however, conservative voters are uncertain whether to vote Bhumjaithai or Democrat, because the power broker behind Bhumjaithai is not Anutin Charnvirakul, the party leader, but Newin Chidchob, the de facto leader.

Nevertheless, Bhumjaithai has a better chance of winning the election, according to Thepthai, because a number of people from right of centre groups, such as the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), have joined Bhumjaithai.

This group of conservatives, said Thepthai, want to see the Bhumjaithai party defeat the People’s Party, while more moderate conservatives, who may sympathise with some progressive policies, are supportive of Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Democrats also have a clearer policy against ‘grey’ businesses and scam activities than Bhumjaithai.