Former Chiang Mai Candidate Quits Prachachon Party Over Personnel Principles
Former Chiang Mai PAO chief candidate Panuaj Chairot has resigned from the Prachachon Party, citing fundamental disagreements over personnel policies. He argues the party's mandatory orientation courses function as screening tools rather than development pathways, undervalue experienced grassroots workers, and wrongly measure political commitment through short training programs rather than long-term community service.
On November 10, 2026, Panuaj Chairot, former candidate for Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization chief, posted on Facebook announcing his departure from the Prachachon Party. He stated the decision was not due to personal conflict but to uphold principles he cannot compromise: a true mass party must prioritize personnel management and respect those who work.
First, the party's development system should allow experienced members to grow rather than forcing everyone through basic orientation courses. For those already working on the ground, clear continuous advancement matters more than making everyone start from the same point regardless of background. When orientation becomes a key gatekeeper while further criteria remain unclear, dedicated workers feel screened out rather than developed.
Second, a mass party must value grassroots workers who are its true backbone. Experience engaging with communities is invaluable. If systems built to institutionalize the party instead make field workers feel tested or judged without clear explanation, it damages morale and erodes the spirit of a mass party.
Third, ideology should not be judged by passing a few days of training. Dedication and political maturity are best proven through long-term work, especially solving people's problems in difficult times. Using courses as screening tools, even with legitimate historical lessons, creates frustration for those wanting to work sincerely if transparency and clear communication are lacking.
"When personnel management doesn't align with my principles, I must step aside to preserve a working method that respects both the people and colleagues," Panuaj said. He thanked his colleagues in the Chiang Mai PAO team and Chiang Mai citizens, calling it a meaningful period for building new local politics, and vowed to continue serving the public by the same principles.
