The Democrat Party's leadership contest promises to be action packed after Thaworn Senneam, a veteran politician from Songkhla, let it be known he is vouching for his fellow former MP, Warong Dechgitvigrom.
Now that Mr Thaworn has officially pledged support for Dr Warong, the latter's odds are seen as having improved significantly. The former MP for Phitsanulok, widely seen by political observers as an underdog in the upcoming leadership contest, suddenly stands out from the crop of potential contenders, according to a party source.
The 57-year-old "rice doctor" was not considered a favourite to win when reports emerged he was setting his sights on the top post, even though he has gained recognition among party members and the public for his crusade against alleged irregularities in a failed rice-pledging scheme by the former Yingluck Shinawatra administration that cost the state millions of baht.
He was not known to have any firm political base nor a large following in the party until Mr Thaworn, a six-time MP for Songkhla and a former deputy secretary-general of the party, gave him his stamp of approval, the source said.
Mr Thaworn is believed to have political clout he could throw behind Dr Warong when the latter officially declares his candidacy.
However, as Mr Thaworn is known to be close to former Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who quit the party to lead the street protests that ultimately ousted the Yingluck government, Dr Warong has been the subject of speculation that he could serve as a proxy for Mr Suthep, the source added.
However, the aspiring party leader has denied any affiliation with Mr Suthep, who is working with the Ruamphalang Prachachartthai Party, also known as the Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT).
"I'm not a medium for anyone. I'm my own boss and no one can use me [to pull any strings]," Dr Warong said as he challenged his critics to keep a close eye on his party leadership campaign.
He said it would demonstrate his character, show how systematic he is in both thought and deed. The remark could be interpreted as meaning he plans to directly challenge Mr Abhisit for the leadership.
At 57, Dr Warong is hailed by his supporters, including Mr Thaworn, as being in his prime. They said there is no better time for him to present himself as a contender for party leader than now.
They have also sent out pamphlets online promoting him as a potential candidate.
The party source said Dr Warong's entry into the race could be a win-win for the Democrat Party, which has had Mr Abhisit at its helm for 13 years. By virtue of experimenting with a new leadership contest method, where registered members are allowed to choose candidates, the party is raising its democratic development to new heights, critics say.
Meanwhile, several party members have played down concerns the leadership race could end up tearing it apart.
Besides Dr Warong, Alongkorn Ponlaboot, who previously quit the party to join the now-defunct National Reform Steering Assembly, has declared he is ready to be nominated. This sparked accusations the regime was trying to interfere in the party's affairs.
Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, who is known to back Abhisit Vejjajiva remaining party leader, believes the more candidates there are will prove to members that the new selection process allows them to have a real stake in the party.
Democrat secretary-general Juti Krairiksh has also described the upcoming race as being a "brotherly contest", not an internal fight or power struggle.
The Democrat Party is scheduled to hold a general assembly on Wednesday to work out details of how the leadership contest will be conducted.
About 300 people including party executives, former MPs, branch representatives, and registered members will attend and likely endorse the new leadership election system initiated by Mr Abhisit.
Critics remain cynical of Aswin
City Hall has rolled out a number of initiatives to address problems facing Bangkok residents and now they are beginning to yield a positive response.
But City Hall's efforts would not have been possible without the support of the Defence Ministry which deployed personnel to help the capital's administration reach out to the public.
Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang introduced a forum titled "Community Speaks to the Governor" to meet people when he visits areas in Bangkok, with mobile medical units arranged to provide health care services to residents.
During the forum, which is streamed live on his Facebook page, people can air their grievances and offer their take on community development.
One "special guest" who recently appeared was Defence Ministry spokesman Khongcheep Tantrawanich who has led troops in activities for the well-being of communities in Bangkok.
It came as no surprise that the spokesman took advantage of the opportunity to promote the regime's achievements.
This was an opportune time to spread the word about the government's Pracharath scheme and the state-funded Thai Niyom Yangyuen (Sustainable Thainess) programme.
Political pundits believe both may be publicity stunts to grab the attention of voters in Bangkok ahead of a general election tentatively set for Feb 24 next year.
It has also been speculated that the regime is forging alliances with small- and medium-sized parties to draw former MPs from their ranks to join a pro-regime party which will support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's bid to return after the coming poll.
The Pracharath scheme calls for people-state partnerships where all sectors of society unite to strengthen the country and boost the economy at a local level.
Thai Niyom Yangyuen, meanwhile, aims to deliver up to 200,000 baht in cash to each village across the country to develop local businesses and improve living conditions in a sustainable way.
Critics, however, have accused the government of splurging the cash to buy people's loyalty via populist programmes.
The regime often boasts of its success in restoring peace and order after it seized power from the Pheu Thai Party-led administration in May 2014.
The government is also eager to talk about its efforts to combat human trafficking and illegal fishing, as well fix shortcomings in the aviation industry to upgrade it to international standards and make the country a regional aviation hub.
And the regime's latest much-touted achievement is an operation to crack down on loan sharks who charge higher interest rates than the law allows and help debtors negotiate with lenders over debt settlements.
On Oct 18, 2016, Gen Prayut, in his capacity as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order, invoked Section 44 of the interim charter to remove Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his deputies from office after MR Sukhumbhand was suspended from work without pay on Aug 25, 2016, amid allegations of misspending state funds.
In the same order, Pol Gen Aswin, who formerly served as MR Sukhumbhand's deputy, was named the new Bangkok governor.
The action followed an investigation by the Office of the Attorney-General into the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's decision to spend 39.5 million baht on a light show at Lan Khon Muang at City Hall between Dec 31, 2015, and Jan 31, 2016.
Pol Gen Aswin, according to the critics, has found it hard to shrug off the label of regime crony whose helping hand could prove essential in rallying political support in Bangkok, the province which houses the largest number of constituencies.
Reading between lines
As election day approaches it is high time politicians reconnect with their supporters who can expect to hear, see and read more about them in the coming months.
Observers agree that parties will be preoccupied with many tasks in the weeks ahead, from amending internal regulations to suit the new charter, admitting new members, opening branches upcountry, to holding primaries to choose candidates.
The tasks will be done almost back to back and with pressure from time constraints bearing down on them, the parties will have to set a frantic pace to put their poll preparations in order.
Although canvassing remains off-limits, some familiar faces are feeling they need to make their voices heard in the prelude to actual electioneering, which will begin when the Election Commission names the election date, probably at the end of the year.
More importantly, though, the National Council for Peace and Order must grant permission by lifting its political activities ban, at which point MP candidates are free to hit the campaign trail.
Although the ban has only been partially removed, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra lost no time in crafting a letter on his Facebook page to mark the 12th anniversary this week of the military coup that toppled his government.
He started by reminding people of how much they have suffered since his ouster and how the country has gone backwards, while everyone else has pushed forward.
After directing his barbs, apparently at the regime, he abruptly switched tone and urged reconciliation, saying it would be in the national interest if old foes buried the hatchet and entered into dialogue with each other.
Critics believe the letter carries significant political undertones which may be interpreted as wooing his faithful in Thailand, loyal supporters of the Pheu Thai Party.
The question he posed: "Haven't we suffered enough?" or his remark suggesting the country had regressed, may be rousing for his supporters eager to teach the regime a lesson.
Thaksin described himself and his youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, as the country's two most popular leaders in political history. Both fled the country before a court convicted them of criminal charges.
Yingluck bolted last year, shortly before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced her to five years in prison for dereliction of duty in failing to prevent corruption in her administration's loss-ridden rice-pledging scheme.
Thaksin, for his part, beat a hasty retreat in 2008 just before the same court ordered him jailed for two years for a conflict of interest, while he was prime minister, in the purchase of state-owned land in inner Bangkok in 2003 by his then-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra.
Those familiar with electoral campaigning noted Thaksin's Facebook statement may include a message of hope for Pheu Thai supporters by highlighting what he claimed was the state of hopelessness that characterises the status quo.
The underlying message may be that if enough voters cast their ballots in the next poll to allow the regime's opponent, Pheu Thai, back in office, the hopelessness could be reversed.
