People’s Party unveils tactics to win local elections
Party planning to put forward candidates for PAO elections in up to 20 provinces
Having suffered repeated defeats, the People’s Party has adjusted its strategies for winning Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) presidential elections, according to its core members.
Speaking to The Nation, the party’s secretary general Sarayoot Jailak on Monday said his party is preparing to compete in Udon Thani’s PAO presidential election, which is expected to take place in November.
Sarayoot said the People’s Party considers three factors while putting forward anyone to vie in the PAO elections, namely the candidates themselves, the party’s working teams in the areas, and the popularity of the party in those provinces.
He said his party is currently planning to put forward candidates for the upcoming PAO elections in up to 20 provinces.
Also, the party’s candidates for the upcoming elections need to undergo a three-week-long special training course to prepare themselves for the competition, he added.
“We are not afraid of defeat, yet we are afraid that we will win but cannot do as promised,” the activist-turned-politician said.
Since the disbandment of its predecessor, the Move Forward Party, the progressive party has suffered setbacks in both electoral contests it has participated in: the by-election in Phitsanulok and the PAO election in Ratchaburi province.
“As for the Ratchaburi election, we admitted that we were not ready,” Sarayoot said.
All PAO presidents in every province will face the end of their terms on December 19, with the countrywide PAO presidential poll scheduled to take place on February 2, according to the Election Commission.
However, if PAO presidents resign before their terms conclude, the elections will be held earlier, as witnessed in Ratchaburi, Pathum Thani, Chainat, Phayao, and Udon Thani.
The People’s Party last week kicked off a campaign that will see its leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, travelling across the nation to meet voters and expand its stronghold.
“We want to reach more people by travelling to meet more voters. We will keep the group that already voted for us. At the same time, we will also expand the voter base to include those who did not vote for us before. This will increase our popularity in the 2027 election to attain the aim of getting 270 seats,” Natthaphong said in another interview.
This follows a Nida Poll result that found Natthaphong ranked third in popularity, while current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra topped the survey.
