The March 24 election contest in Surat Thani, where six seats are up for grabs, promises to be a close race between the Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT) Party and the Democrats.
Surat Thani has been a political stronghold of the Democrats, but after the departure of its former secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, political observers expect the vote in this southern province to be one of the most interesting to watch.
Now that candidacy registration is under way, the race is officially on.
The ACT candidates are led by Thanee and Shane Thaugsuban, brothers of the ACT co-founder, who will be defending their seats in constituencies 1 and 4 respectively, but this time under the ACT banner.
Mr Thanee is running against Democrat candidate Panu Sribusayakan, former deputy mayor of Nakhon Surat Thani, while Mr Shane is up against Democrat Somchart Praditporn, ex-chairman of the provincial administrative organisation.
The Democrat candidates were accompanied by the party's senior adviser, Banyat Bantadtan, and former MP Chumpol Kanchana, while Mr Suthep turned up in Amnat Charoen as part of his "Pay Respects to the Land" campaign.
Other key candidates to watch in this province include Thirayuth Iamtrakul, a former governor of Surat Thani and Trang, who is running on the Palang Pracharath Party's ticket, and Banchong Chamchuan of the Bhumjaithai Party.
Deputy Democrat leader Jurin Laksanavisit said Monday the party expects to pick up 3,360,000 votes in the southern region where a total of 50 seats are available.
He was speaking as he accompanied party candidate Kantawan Tantian Kuljanyawiwat to register for the March 24 polls in Phangnga where only one seat is up for grabs.
He also defended the party against criticism that it had no achievements in the region, saying it would not have retained its popularity in the South for years if its policies did not speak to voters.
According to Mr Jurin, the Democrat Party will hold a major campaign rally in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Thung Song district on Saturday.
In Pattani, where four seats are up for grabs, the emergence of the Prachachat Party, led by veteran politician Wan Muhammad Nor Matha, is expected to add spice to the contest.
According to political observers, Constituency 1 is the most interesting to watch. Democrat candidate Anwar Salae is defending his seat against ACT candidate Arun Benjaluck who lost by 2,000 votes in the previous election.
Eyes are also fixed on Constituency 3 where former MP Sommut Benjaluck is defending his seat but under the banner of Prachachat Party. Mr Sommut won the last election on the Bhumjaithai Party ticket but this time his former team has split up to run under other parties' banners.
