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Published on October 31, 2007

Does Sanan Kachorn-prasart, the Maha-chon Party founder, really want to join Chat Thai Party? The answer is "no" but he has no choice.

In fact, Sanan really wanted to return to his former party, the Democrats, where he still has many associates. But the biggest and only obstacle was Suthep Thaugsuban, the Democrat secretary-general. There is no love lost between these veteran politicians.

The relationship between Sanan and Suthep was seriously damaged when they were together in the party. But Suthep is now one of the most influential people in the Democrats after he played a significant and crucial role the campaign to oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Before the Constitution Tribunal judges reached their verdict in the party dissolution case, a Democrat executive had urged Sanan to rejoin them, as they believed its arch rival, the Thai Rak Thai Party, was likely to be dissolved.

At first, Sanan agreed to the invitation, but following a rumour the Democrats might also be dissolved, the former powerful party secretary-general changed his mind. Sanan hoped that if his former party was dissolved other members would flock to Mahachon.

But the verdict did not turn out as he hoped. Sanan had badly miscalculated the situation.

All eyes then turned to Suthep, as the person who gathered all the information for the case that finally brought down Thaksin's legacy. The Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved with 111 executive members being banned from politics for five years and losing their electoral rights for the same period.

With the door to his former party closed, Sanan looked for other options. He may have many reasons to join Banharn Silapa-archa at Chat Thai, but first things first. It is all about Sanan's political pride.

Sanan is 60, and 15 years younger than Banharn, whom he calls "Brother Banharn". In Thai society it looks good when a younger person goes back and seeks help from someone senior. If Sanan had returned to the Democrats or joined his former close associate Pradit Pataraprasith at the Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana, Sanan would have been seen to have lost dignity.

Moreover, it is unlikely that any Democrat members would have sent an invitation for Sanan to return to the party. To join the Democrats, Sanan would have had to register and fill out an application form for membership. In contrast, the hugging, cheek kissing and warm welcome from Banharn, made the veteran Sanan feel like he was floating on air.

Another reason for joining Banharn was that Sanan could no longer financially support his Mahachon Party.

"Sanan is like a tiger with nails and teeth but has no power. Banharn and Chat Thai have something Sanan wants. He has chosen the right thing for him," a close aide of Sanan said.

As a political guru Sanan foresees Chat Thai may become a crucial political player in the formation of the next government. Chat Thai is likely to become one of the coalition parties in both the anti-Thaksin camp led by the Democrats and the  pro-Thaksin camp led by the People Power Party.

It is of mutual benefit for both the veteran politicians. While Sanan may be using the Chat Thai Party as his shelter or springboard, Banharn needs the political experience of Sanan, famously known as a "government manager", to build up a coalition to get back into power.

Only after the December 23 election will we know whether this was the right decision of the man whose nickname is "Chalawan" after his hometown Phichit, which is the city of a legendary crocodile named Chalawan.

Jintana Panyaarvudh

The Nation