Bangkok: Supachai Jaisamut, a prominent figure and list candidate of the Bhumjaithai Party, has refuted recent claims made by Thawiphip Limjitrakorn regarding candidate changes in Buriram. Supachai insists that Thawiphip's assertions are based on false information and demands an apology, while criticizing Thawiphip's candidate selection as a move from a "gray" to a "black" area.
According to Thai News Agency, the controversy stems from the People's Party's decision to nominate Thawiphip Limjitrakorn to run in Constituency 33, following the prosecution of former candidate Boonrit Laorungroj for money laundering linked to drug trafficking. Boonrit, whose campaign slogan was "With us, there is no gray area," faced public scrutiny due to his company's substantial financial activities. Supachai emphasized that the charges against Boonrit mark a clear "black" area, contradicting any notion of ambiguity.
Supachai further clarified that during Thawiphip's registration as a candidate, some political parties lodged complaints with the Election Commission to annul his candidacy. Thawiphip, however, maintained his right to register, and his application was accepted by the Commission. He had suggested that similar candidate substitutions had occurred in Buriram before, but investigations showed otherwise. Supachai affirmed that the Bhumjaithai Party had not altered any candidates in either the 2023 election or the current one, and that Mr. Newin Chidchob played no role in candidate selection. Supachai urged Thawiphip to apologize for disseminating what he termed as false or fabricated information against the Bhumjaithai Party.