On 17 January it was announced that Arthit would join Samakkhi Tham. along with 10 other members, with other former Puangchon Chao Thai MPs going to other parties. Arthit claimed that he was concerned for the develop- ment of the Northeast, that the STP policies were no different from those of PCT, and that he was having difficulty in attracting candidates and funds.6 It was an irony indeed that Arthit, who had been arrested by the coup leaders, was now joining the party that was promoting Suchinda for the prime minis- tership. Although the shell of the party remained and PCT did contest the elec- tion, the party was over. The party was over too, for Chalerm Yoobamrung and his Muan Chon Party. The flamboyant, abrasive and outspoken Chalerm had been at logger- heads with the military whilst a minister in Chatichai's government, so much so that Suchinda had demanded that he be sacked. He fled the country in fear of his life after the coup because he was implicated in the alleged 1982 assas- sination plot. Although he had subsequently returned from exile in Denmark in December, and seemed to be on good terms with the military, his seat in Bangkok was vulnerable to any "Chamlong fever" that might infect the city. Also, his prolonged absence left his party in disarray. His re-entry into poli- tics, he claimed, was to "clear his name" for being accused of "unusual wealth",and for having Bt32 million of his assets stripped from him. Thus, although party was able to field the minimum number candidates required, and entered the in his aggressive and "high-profile" threatening to "reveal all" about the three million telephone scandal and the alleged 1982 assassination plot, nothing startling was forthcoming, and his battle appeared to be a one-man crusade ther than the campaigning of a party with any hope of success."