Chaichanok Chidchob: Can Bhumjaithai’s heir apparent survive his first political storm?

The meteoric rise of Chaichanok Chidchob is almost unmatched in Thai politics. The eldest son of Bhumjaithai’s billionaire founder Newin Chidchob, he had been an MP for barely two years when he was appointed to the Cabinet last year as digital economy and society (DES) minister at the tender age of 35.

However, Chaichanok’s fast-track to the top now faces a major roadblock that threatens to derail both his reputation and his career.

His ministry’s flagship TH-AI Passport project – a 1.6-billion-baht initiative to push the adoption of artificial intelligence – has drawn scrutiny over its cost-effectiveness, transparency, and bidding process.

The controversial project will offer Thai citizens 5 million subscriptions to 12 AI models, with one-year access to professional-grade tools and training courses developed in partnership with tech giants like Google, Microsoft and OpenAI.

However, opposition MPs and critics suspect collusion in the bidding process, pointing out that AI subscriptions could be procured at a lower cost to the national budget. The opposition has threatened to launch a corruption investigation if the government goes ahead with the project.

Personal woes

Compounding Chaichanok’s woes are embarrassing social media revelations about his estranged mother and educational background.

According to online reports, police discovered in 2011 that his mother owned a Buriram house that was being used as a gambling den.

Chaichanok, who turns 36 next month, explained that he knows little about his mother as he was a toddler when his parents divorced, and his father had rarely spoken about her.

“Those who want to discredit me or destroy my political future should focus on me alone, not my mother. We have lived happily in separate families for many years,” said Chaichanok, who is also secretary general of the ruling Bhumjaithai Party.

Regarding rumours about his educational background, Chaichanok conceded that he had dropped out of university in the UK after being schooled there for 17 years. He explained he had quit university to run his business, but graduated later with a degree from a Thai college. “I have never hidden these facts,” he said.

Likely repercussions

Chaichanok has served as Bhumjaithai’s number 2 since March 2024, succeeding his uncle Saksayam Chidchob, who resigned in the wake of a shareholding scandal.

Chaichanok was only 33 when he attained the key party post, in a move thought to have been engineered by his father, who retains strong influence in the ruling party despite holding no executive posts.

Following Bhumjaithai’s election victory in February, Chaichanok returned as DES minister, resuming the role he was handed a few months earlier under Anutin Charnvirakul’s short-lived minority government.

Chaichanok has been tipped as Bhumjaithai’s next leader should Anutin step down. Observers say this has made him a target for political enemies of Bhumjaithai and the Chidchob family, whose influence has hit new heights in recent years.

Analysts also warn that the attacks on Chaichanok – particularly over the TH-AI Passport project – threaten to undermine public trust in the ruling party and its government.#

A former game buff

Born on July 14, 1990, in Buriram, Chaichanok was sent to study in England at the age of eight, attending Millfield School in Glastonbury before going on to study economics and finance at a London university.

After 17 years in England, he returned to Thailand aged 25 and applied to serve in the military – an experience he described as “life-changing” and “eye-opening”. He later obtained a bachelor's degree in political science from Chalermkarnchana University in his home province of Buriram.

Chaichanok joined Bhumjaithai in 2022 and was elected to Parliament a year later, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in representing their home province. He was re-elected on the party list in February’s general election.

Before entering politics, Chaichanok worked as a senior executive in his family’s businesses – Buriram United Football Club and the Chang International Circuit motorsports arena. He also served as chief executive of Buriram United E-sports, which he founded at age 29, inspired by his love of video games.

On entering Parliament, he declared assets of 161.6 million baht, including 50.5 million baht in bank deposits, 12.9 million in investments, 24.1 million in land, and 14.5 million worth of vehicles, including an 8-million-baht Bentley Continental GT.