People’s Party Aims for Solo Government, Kicks Off in Korat

Vendors at Korat’s busiest market were still arranging baskets of longan when Natthaphong “Teng” Ruengpanyawut sprang onto a plastic stool and announced what he called “the simplest coalition formula of all—no coalition at all.” His whirlwind visit offered a preview of how the People’s Party plans to spend the next month: hammering home the message that a single-party cabinet is possible, desirable and, in his words, the “cleanest way to finally scrub out grey money from Thai politics.”

Fast facts before you queue at the polling booth

• Single-party pledge: PP insists it will not sit with either Bhumjaithai or Kla Tham, two parties it brands as old-guard.

• Senate no longer votes for PM, removing the 2023 roadblock that cost the reform camp the government.

• Polls show momentum but not a landslide. PP sits in the mid-20% range nationally; undecided voters remain the largest bloc.

• Korat is pivotal. Sixteen seats are up for grabs in the province, three of which PP’s predecessor carried in 2023.

• Rival parties respond: Bhumjaithai calls the single-party goal “impossible under the 2017 charter,” while Kla Tham labels it “theatrics.”

Korat rally: promises, selfies and the colour orange

The morning rally at Mae Kim Heng fresh market doubled as a stress test of PP’s retail-politics appeal. Natthaphong shook every hand in sight, handed out tangerine-coloured cloth bags and reminded locals that “orange defeats grey” is more than a slogan—it is a commitment to purge what he calls non-transparent patronage networks. With the microphones off, campaign staff admitted the province is a bellwether: if PP can hold its three seats and flip at least two more, the party’s national map “starts to turn orange quickly.”

The arithmetic behind a one-party dream

Political scientists remain skeptical. Under the mixed-member electoral formula, a party would likely need at least 240 of 500 House seats to govern without partners. The most generous December polls give PP between 120 and 160. Undecided voters—roughly one-third of the electorate—could swing the outcome, but analysts such as Chulalongkorn University’s Siripan Nogsuan argue that Thai politics “is structurally wired for coalitions.” Even so, Natthaphong believes the removal of the appointed Senate from the PM vote changes everything: “Now it’s straight maths—win the House, win the government.”

Why Nakhon Ratchasima matters more than ever

Known as the “gateway to Isan,” Korat delivers 16 constituency seats—more than any province outside Bangkok. It also mirrors national demographics: rural-urban pockets, military families, swing voters working in SME factories. PP strategists say conquering Korat would prove the party can reach beyond its urban base. The leadership’s decision to field well-known activist Chat Supattarawanit in Constituency 1 underscores that ambition.

Pushback from the intended exclusions

Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul quickly reminded reporters that his party “will never join hands with anyone bent on rewriting Section 112,” a veiled jab at PP’s reformist pedigree. Kla Tham’s secretary-general called Natthaphong’s comments “headline hunting,” noting that coalition governments have ruled Thailand for every term since 1992. Both rivals argue that PP’s hard line could backfire if the vote fragments.

Could a minority cabinet survive?

Should PP finish first without 250 seats, Natthaphong floats a fall-back—forming a minority government and negotiating issue-by-issue support. Scholars liken the idea to Canada’s or Denmark’s parliamentary models, yet warn Thailand’s no-confidence rules make minority setups fragile. A budget bill defeat would topple the cabinet, forcing either a coalition compromise or fresh elections within months. Market analysts already price in heightened volatility for Thai bonds if no party wins a stable majority.

What Thai voters should watch in the homestretch

Undecided surge: Pollsters hint the final two weeks decide up to 6 M floating ballots.

Rural infrastructure pledges: PP will unveil a 50-bn-baht Thai Green Grid plan next week; rivals will counter with farm-subsidy sweeteners.

Youth turnout: In 2023, first-time voters lifted reformist parties by 12 %. Election officials predict another 1.3 M new voters this cycle.

Allegations of grey capital: Any credible evidence linking candidates to illicit funds could swing tightly contested districts, especially in the Northeast.

The bottom line

Natthaphong’s promise of a single-party administration electrifies supporters who feel cheated in 2023, but history, polling and constitutional math all caution against overconfidence. The Korat walk-through offered a glimpse of the momentum PP hopes will snowball nationwide. Whether that energy translates into the 240-plus seats required—or pushes Thailand toward yet another intricate coalition—now rests in the hands of an electorate that has learned to keep its options open until the very last ballot is marked.