Sanan joins Chat Thai Party

In a press conference at the headquarter of Chat Thai Party, Sanan said the new constitution gave small parties no room to survive the fierce competition among political groups.

In particular, Mahachon had been in trouble to fill candidates for the party-list MP election since tough rules were imposed, he said. He believed the party would not win any of 80 party-list seats.

Thus, Sanan said he and his key members decided to join Chat Thai to help Banharn to win the December 23 election as he had faith in the Chat Thai leader.

Banharn said he was glad to have Sanan with him. They both had been political allies for more than 30 years although they had never been in the same party, he said.

He had heard Sanan planned to leave Mahachon, so he asked him to join Chat Thai to make the party as great as the one of its good old days, he said.

Sanan said he wanted Mahachon to merge with Chat Thai but could not be done until the next House dissolution.

Sanan had arrived the headquarter of Chat Thai Party in the morning amid speculation that he would dissolve his party and bring 15 key party members to work with Banharn.

Banharn gave a hug and cheek-to-cheek greeting to Sanan on his arrival.

 

Key Mahachon members moving to Chat Thai include Sanan and his son Siriwat, deputy leader Akaphol Sorasuchart and party's secretary-general Atsawin Wiphusiri.

Mahachon's deputy leader Somsak Wiwat-anan is reported to be succeeding Sanan as the new Mahachon leader.