Anchalee resigns OrBorJor presidency
PHUKET: Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), yesterday tendered her resignation to the Governor’s Office, the Gazette has confirmed.
Manus Nooluck, Secretary to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, this morning confirmed receipt of the letter.
No reason was given for the resignation, which takes effect today, he said.
However, a source in the OrBorJor told the Gazette the move is intended to allow K. Anchalee to turn her attention to full-time campaigning in her attempt to recapture the OrBorJor presidency seat.
K. Anchalee’s current term as OrBorJor president ends on March 13. New elections must be held before April 27, according to Election Commission law.
She does not want political opponents to complain that she is unfairly using her position to canvass for votes, the source said.
K. Manus said that Gov Niran was unable to personally accept the resignation because he had left for Germany, where he will attend the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) trade show in Berlin.
In his absence, the resignation has been turned over to acting governor Worapoj Ratthasima, he said.
While the Election Commission has yet to announce the date of the OrBorJor election or accept candidacies for OrBorJor seats, the election is expected to become a two-horse race between K. Anchalee and former Phuket Senator Paiboon Upatising.
K. Paiboon, a businessman, is the developer of the island’s many Phuket Villa residential estates and the sole distributor of Singha Beer on the island.
