The father of the Bhumjaithai Party has demonstrated his skills and vision in building strong regional operational powerhouses from the ground away– in the process allowing a glimpse into the party’s plan to harness sustained social strength from them.
Newin Chidchob, co-founder of and a renowned figure in Bhumjaithai, recently addressed a forum with a suggestion on how provincial administrative organizations ( PAOs ) can be simplified and better serve local residents ‘ needs.
The forum’s keynote speaker was Mr. Newin, who gave a presentation on how to forge close relationships with provincial governors and PAO seats using Buri Ram, Bhumjaithai’s homeland, as a unit. Most individuals were statewide governors and PAO leaders from around the country.
Bhumjaithai has discovered that PAOs are a treasure trove of operational capabilities that provide the group with what it needs to stay in the forefront of its political activity as well as garner support for upcoming general elections.
The largest partnership mate has performed well in local elections. Even though the group did not officially run in the Feb 1 PAO chair elections in 47 out of 77 regions, its allies won 14 out of 47 chairs up for grabs.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the party’s chief, is credited with avoiding fielding candidates because Bhumjaithai’s candidate protection system, which regulates local government and community organizations nationwide. He and the whole group would have been in hot water if there had been a conflict of interest.
A political scientist said Bhumjaithai is out to report political points on several fronts, it has eased itself into the traditional station with its mantra to firmly uphold the nation, religion and monarchy, and it has been identified as the “blue” party asserting dominance over most senators elected in inter-professional, multi-tier polls next year.
It is considered to be one of the largest right-wing parties. Traditional conservative voters generally reject Pheu Thai, according to the analyst, despite the ruling party’s reluctant embrace of the label of a “neo-conservative” party.
The voters think former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, seen as the de facto head of Pheu Thai, does not and will never fit the mould of a right-leaning leader.
While Pheu Thai’s predecessor, the Thai Rak Thai Party, was in charge of a government, he was also charged with computer crime and lese majeste offences as a result of an interview he conducted in South Korea in 2015.
In contrast, Bhumjaithai’s supporters on the right have much less suspicion for him. Some academics have predicted Bhumjaithai will emerge from the next election, two years from now, in a better position with more than 100 MPs. Bhumjaithai currently has 70.
If the prediction is accurate, Bhumjaithai’s expansion will have snatched up some of the support bases of the United Thai Nation Party and Palang Pracharath Party’s existing ultra-conservative coalition. Both parties command 55 MPs between them.
In the event that either or both parties lose in the upcoming election, it is likely that some traditional voters will support Bhumjaithai. Bhumjaithai would be the only conservative “titan” standing up to Pheu Thai and the liberal People’s Party ( PP ), the analyst said.
The analyst added that conservative voters might be tempted to support Bhumjaithai in the general election as their last line of defence against the PP.
Bhumjaithai has also been sparked by its strong ties to the majority of senators whose terms are up until the following general election. Only a few senators in the so-called “blue-affiliated” faction, a reference to Bhumjaithai, may be affected despite an ongoing investigation by the Election Commission into collusion among groups of candidates in last year’s senatorial polls.
Bhumjaithai-Senate ties will then continue on a strong footing, which would provide the party with immense political leverage over other parties in deciding the fate of key legislation.
According to the analyst, Bhumjaithai may have attempted to consolidate its position by capturing as many PAO chief elections as possible. In addition to providing local administrative organizations with budgetary management, the PAOs are well known for having close ties with residents, which can be advantageous for the parties that run the PAOs in general elections.
Although Bhumjaithai has done fairly well so far in PAO races, there remains plenty of room for internal improvement of the organisations, according to Mr Newin.
He claimed to have spent 15 years transforming Buri Ram from a sleepy “pass-through” lower northeastern province into a bustling destination and home of Buriram United Football Club, of which Mr. Newin is chairman.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great showed goodwill and grace to the people of Buri Ram during his visits, he claimed.
Mr Newin pointed to a major downside of having appointed governors direct provincial affairs. He noted that governors frequently stay in a province for long enough to see projects through while they come and go.
In reshuffles ordered by the Interior Ministry, the governors move to other provinces.
The lack of continuity in implementing local policies could be offset by elected PAO chiefs installed by the people, who stand a chance of being re-elected if they impress voters.
Mr. Newin argued that local administrative organizations only become stronger and more prosperous if elected leaders of these organizations are given a choice and there is no cap on the number of terms they can serve.
” I have told Bhumjaithai members that it is time to introduce a law change that will let citizens choose how their income tax should be distributed.
” People should have the final say on whether the tax they pay should be diverted to local organisations of their choice, instead of having the money automatically channelled to the central government where the fund is held up]before being distributed], “he said.
Having a few ace to play
At least until the Budget Bill for the 2026 fiscal year passes its first reading, which is scheduled for late next month, is when the Pheu Thai Party will bite its tongue and continue to operate what is widely thought to be a fragile alliance with its partner Bhumjaithai.
Anutin: Adopting a softer tone
According to observers, Bhumjaithai is believed to have a number of cards in hand with ruling party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
One is its close ties to the 200-member Senate, which is reportedly associated with the party and called the “blue faction” ( more than half of which is reportedly referred to as the “blue faction” )
Although Ms Paetongtarn sailed through a recent no-confidence motion, she still faces ethics questions over two contentious issues raised by the opposition People’s Party ( PP ) during the debate.
The first case involves her using promissory notes in her attempt to purchase shares worth 4.43 billion baht from her family, which should have been subject to 218.7 million baht in gift tax, if the promissory notes had not been used in place of the customary method of payment.
The opposition has questioned the true purpose of Ms. Paetongtarn’s use of the notes, which some claim were fabricated to defraud her of the gift tax that was required for her to acquire the shares.
The other case involves the legitimacy of a land plot in Nakhon Ratchasima where her family-owned luxury hotel”, Thames Valley Khao Yai”, is located. The location of the opulent hotel’s plot is reportedly designated as a “watershed area” where land registration is not possible.
Questions have been raised as to how the business came to own the plot, of which Ms. Paetongtarn served as an executive and shareholder.
With such ethics questions hanging over Ms Paetongtarn, Pheu Thai reportedly fears it will face the wrath of Bhumjaithai’s founder and patriarch, Newin Chidchob, if it opts for a breakup and pushes Bhumjaithai from the government.
It is well known that Mr. Newin has influence outside of his party, and he may seek revenge by launching formal investigations against the prime minister through the Senate.
Bhumjaithai has adopted a two-faced strategy that has become more apparent in the wake of Pheu Thai’s attempt to push the highly contented casino-entertainment scheme, according to Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a political science lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ).
He pointed to Bhumjaithai secretary-general, Chaichanok Chidchob, denouncing the casino-entertainment project in parliament, while party leader and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul adopted a soft tone and distanced the party from Mr Chaichanok’s remark.
Pheu Thai heavyweights have been questioned about the loyalty of their coalition partner due to Mr. Chaichanok’s strong opposition, which came despite the delay in the House’s casino-entertainment complex bill’s deliberation until the following parliamentary session, which is scheduled to begin on July 2.
However, the analyst noted that a strategy like this does not appeal to Bhumjaithai because it is known to be trying to win over some middle-class conservative voters. He pointed out that Bhumjaithai’s popularity peaked late last year, but its approval rating dipped to below 8 % in March this year– a sign that voters do not approve of its strategy to woo support.
Pheu Thai believes that Mr. Chaichanok’s decision has blindsided it, but it cannot risk detaining Bhumjaithai from the coalition out of concern that Mr. Newin may use his ties to the Senate to launch inquiries into Ms. Paetongtarn over the use of promissory notes and the Khao Yai land, in the opinion of Mr. Phichai.
It worries Pheu Thai that these flaws will be exploited as soon as Bhumjaithai is expelled from the coalition because the prime minister has failed to respond to these claims clearly. ]It can’t take a risk, ] no matter how badly it wants the interior ministerial post,” said Mr Phichai.
The analyst claims that Mr. Newin and Mr. Anutin are not in agreement on what the party should do with the casino-extertainment complex bill, but they do know they must stick together.
” No one in Bhumjaithai doubts that Mr. Newin will continue to be the party’s pillar.” He is the master of political tactics, and he knows he does not need to bow to anyone, not even Thaksin Shinawatra,” said Mr Phichai.