Bhumjaithai Party Opts Out of Sisaket Provincial Election, Avoids Clash with Pheu Thai.

Sisaket: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, who leads the Bhumjaithai Party, has confirmed that his party will not field a candidate in the upcoming election for the President of the Sisaket Provincial Administrative Organization. This decision comes amid the Pheu Thai Party's active participation in the race. Anutin clarified that the Bhumjaithai Party's absence from the contest is not a matter of political competition with any coalition partners, but rather a deliberate choice to avoid potential conflicts and maintain neutrality. According to Thai News Agency, Anutin emphasized that running for local office is a personal decision and should not be influenced by party politics. He expressed his desire for Bhumjaithai to remain uninvolved in local electoral disputes. Furthermore, Anutin addressed the involvement of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is supporting Pheu Thai candidates. He reiterated that this is a separate matter unrelated to Bhumjaithai, which has not deployed any campaign aides in Sisaket Province. Anutin also highlighted his role as Minister of Interior, where he issued directives to ensure neutrality among civil servants during the election. He stated that these measures demonstrate Bhumjaithai's commitment to staying out of the electoral fray. He dismissed notions that the local election might serve as a precursor to national politics, viewing it instead as a community affair centered on local representation and individual rights. Adding to the narrative, Ms. Traisuree Traisaranakul, Secretary to the Minister of Interior, clarified that her father is contesting the election independently, without any formal association with the Bhumjaithai Party. She mentioned that her father, a Sisaket native, is part of a local group challenging the Pheu Thai Party. Traisuree assured that the local candidates are prepared for a robust campaign, regardless of the opponents' size or influence.