Political parties have slammed a fresh proposal floated by a National Legislative Assembly (NLA) whip to delay the election roadmap by three more months.
NLA whip Somchai Sawaengkarn on Saturday said the NLA will petition the Constitutional Court to rule on the constitutionality of the organic bill on the election of MPs if political parties come together to make a pact to allow the election roadmap to be delayed by another three months.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said the roadmap will lead to an election in February of next year.
Mr Somchai made the remarks in response to concerns that have been raised after NLA members agreed to seek the court's ruling on the constitutionality of the organic bill on senators, not the bill on the election of MPs.
The bill on the election of MPs will be submitted for royal endorsement as planned.
About 30 members of the NLA will petition the court tomorrow to rule on the bill on senators. A petition requires the support from at least 25 NLA members.
This is despite the fact that the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) asked the NLA to forward two bills, including the one on the election of MPs, to the court.
NLA president Pornpetch Witchitcholchai said on Friday the NLA decided not to seek the court's ruling on the bill on the election of MPs because they did not see eye to eye with the CDC that some contentious elements in the bill were in conflict with the 2017 constitution.
The CDC's concerns about the election of MPs bill involved Section 35 that prohibits people who fail to vote in national elections without good reason from being appointed as political office holders.
While the charter does say those who fail to cast votes without proper cause may face some restrictions of rights, the CDC felt that barring them from holding political office might be a step too far.
The CDC also raised concerns about a clause in the MP election bill that allows election staff or other individuals to help disabled people cast their vote as it might conflict with the stipulation that ballots must be cast in secret.
The CDC was concerned that if certain controversial points surrounding the two bills were not settled at this stage, serious damage could be done to the national administration if they were found to be unconstitutional and the selection of senators, or even the polls themselves, were voided later.
Mr Somchai's proposal drew flak from political parties yesterday.
Democrat Party deputy leader Nipit Intarasombat said that the NLA must take responsibility for causing any problems that would affect the election roadmap.
If the election is voided later, the assembly may be held accountable for the costs incurred by the voided poll, Mr Nipit said.
Mr Nipit said that CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan had repeatedly warned the NLA about controversial points in the two bills, particularly one on the election of MPs but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
But right now, the NLA is not sure if it should seek a charter court ruling on the bill on the election of MPs, Mr Nipit said.
Pheu Thai acting deputy secretary-general Chavalit Wichayasut said the NLA must solve the mess it has created, and it was wrong to shift the burden to political parties.
"The 'Five Rivers' must be responsible for what happens," he said, referring to the five bodies set up by the coupmakers to govern -- the NCPO, cabinet, NLA, CDC and the defunct National Reform Steering Assembly.
Mr Chavalit questioned if efforts are under way to keep delaying the election.
The case in point is the NLA's vote on Feb 22 to reject all seven candidates chosen to serve as election regulators.
The latest controversy surrounding the two organic bills has only fuelled the suspicion, he said.
Somsak Prissananantakul, a key Chartthaipattana Party figure, echoed similar sentiments. He said the NLA did not pay heed to the CDC's concerns that the bill on the election of MPs have elements that could violate the constitution.
"It's your direct responsibility," Mr Somsak said.
"Don't hold the bill on the election of MPs hostage to allow you to stay on in power."
Thammasat University vice-rector Prinya Thaewanarumitkul said any contentious issues involving the two bills should have been settled by a joint committee set up to fine-tune the content of the bills after they were passed by the NLA.
The joint panel comprised representatives of the NLA, the CDC and the Election Commission.
