“Chaichana” Reminds “Phiphat” of Promise to Restore Southern Greatness, Demands Clear Answers on Double-Track Railway and High Oil Prices, Urges Not to Deceive Southerners

Today (5 November 2026) at 11:45 AM at Parliament, Mr. Chaichana Detdecho, MP and Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, gave an interview sending a message to Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport. He stated that early this year, Mr. Phiphat had pledged to reclaim greatness for the Southern people while claiming that the South had gone undeveloped for 30 years.

Mr. Chaichana countered that the South had been continuously developed in the past, including the initial construction of Phetkasem Road Highway 41, various educational institutions, and universities during Mr. Chuan Leekpai’s tenure as Prime Minister, as well as the construction of the Walailak University Medical Center during Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva’s administration.

Regarding the Bhumjaithai Party, Mr. Chaichana noted that the party oversaw the Ministry of Transport from 2009–2011 and 2019–2023—excluding the 2014–2019 coup period—as well as early 2025, before returning to manage it from late 2025 through 2026. He therefore questioned Mr. Phiphat on whether he has executed a clear plan to restore Southern greatness as announced, or delivered anything satisfactory to the public yet.

At the same time, Mr. Chaichana pressed for progress on solving high oil prices, which Mr. Phiphat previously claimed he could resolve, as well as the double-track railway project, calling on him to specify the exact year construction will begin rather than merely using rhetoric for electoral gain.

“Speak the truth to the people. Na Luang (Uncle) is an elder I have long respected, and personally we get along very well. Na Luang, please do some work. Speak the truth and work with reality for the people. When oil prices rose, Na Luang said it could be solved, but it wasn’t. When is the double-track railway plan? When will it be built? When will it be done? Make the year clear. Don’t just speak rhetoric for votes. Today, after winning many seats in the South during the election, please, Na Luang, don’t deceive the Southern people,” Mr. Chaichana said.

Photo : Weeraphat Ratsameerueangrong