Govt puts on brave face for Isaan tour

He was insulted when the North and Northeast were seen as the stronghold of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his red-shirted supporters.

Pheu Thai Party's recent by-election victories in Sakon Nakhon and Si Sa Ket also confirm Thaksin's influence in the area.

The longer Thaksin Fever stays, the worse for the government.

A luncheon at Baan Phitsanulok, the premier's official residence - with Abhisit, Bhum Jai Thai de facto leader Newin Chidchob as well as "government manager" Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, plus PM's secretary-general Niphon Phromphan - had yielded the Buri Ram strategy.

The talks over lunch included how to improve the government's image. Newin said he was ready to withdraw the Bhum Jai Thai's NGV bus leasing project.

Suthep promised to allocate a large budget to the party if it promised not to propose projects that would detract from the government's confidence or image.

The parties saw that it was time they both joined hands to canvass for votes in the Northeast. Otherwise, Thaksin's popularity would gain momentum. There came the agreement for mutual cooperation.

The government parties are betting on the authority they are holding while the strategy is to publicise the government's achievements through Bhum Jai Thai MPs, who are more accepted by local people in the region than the Democrats.

"The prime minister's visit, no matter to which province in the Northeast, will generate more popularity for the party," a source said.

"The latest survey found that the Democrat Party's popularity is about the same as Pheu Thai's. However, Democrat MP candidates are in trouble. It's hard for the party to get a good candidate.

"Bhum Jai Thai MPs are more popular than the Democrats, so the Democrats need to use Bhum Jai Thai MPs to push for the government's policies and promote them as from the Democrat government."

Democrat proportionate MP Kraisak Choonhavan, deputy leader in charge of the Northeast, said Abhisit had told Democrat MPs in the region to join him in visiting the province so they could help promote the government's policies.

Another Democrat proportionate MP for the Northeast, Witoon Nambutr, said Abhisit would not be concerned about whose party the area belonged to, but would follow up on implementation and hail the government's policies including sealed roads, water resources development and One Tambon One Hospital.

However, it's not just the Democrats and Bhum Jai Thai that are preparing for the occasion. The anti-government red shirts are also getting ready.

PM's personal spokesman Thepthai Senapong told the government to keep an eye on community radio stations such as Chiang Mai 51, Udon Lovers and Taxi Community, which could incite people to rally against Abhisit on Saturday.

The demonstration against the visit of Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai in Chiang Mai on Monday was just for testing the waters while showing off their power.

Some must be holding their breath to see whether Newin can mobilise people and turn Abhisit's trip into another reality show like his party had organised in Sakon Nakhon to try to impress voters there last month.

Piyanart@nationgroup.com