Chai-anan ready to take political plunge

Chai-anan Samudvanija is set to enter the political arena.

Well-known academic Chai-anan Samudvanija yesterday vowed to enter politics and contest the general election after the promulgation of the new constitution and the completion of his job in the National Legislative Assembly.

"I am not going to just play politics but will seriously pursue a political career," he said.

He claimed some 30 to 40 of his followers were ready to join him at his new political home.

"I will enter politics as soon as the country has a new charter and I am approached to join a party," he said, dismissing speculation about forming his own party.

He spoke after delivering a speech on his political future to members of the Matchima Group, which he said had policies compatible with his own thoughts.

"The reason I have not joined Matchima yet is because I have yet to be invited by its leader Somsak [Thepsuthin]," he said.

In praising Matchima's policies, he said he liked the platforms designed for the farming sector and the boosting of value-added agricultural products without relying on the government's hand-outs.

He said he wanted to be a coalition partner in the next government, and that he was also ready to ally with the Democrat Party, under whose banner he had made a failed election bid some years ago.

Commenting on a possible future political scenario, he said it was possible for Matchima to merge with or form an alliance with the soon-to-be-formed Ruam Jai Thai Party.

Ruam Jai Thai has many academics and businessmen in its ranks and a power base in Bangkok while Matchima has many former MPs from upcountry, he said.

He dismissed speculation that he might act as the political nominee of the military.

In his speech to Matchima members, Chai-anan said he would strive to implement balanced policies to meet the peoples' aspirations, heeding the lesson of lopsided policies designed to favour selected vested interests under the ousted government.

Matchima leader Somsak said he would develop his group into a new party.

He said he was prepared to form an alliance but refused to speculate on the next coalition.

"My 27 years in politics and 12 times in the Cabinet have taught me that Thai people do not like boastfulness," he said.

After the unveiling of new electoral rules, he plans to name the leader of his new party.

He is confident his new party will become a major force in politics within two elections. He conceded however that there was uncertainty surrounding the next general election as 111 political veterans are facing a five-year ban from the electoral process.