A Cambodia National Rescue Party provincial councillor from Battambang yesterday became the second member of the country’s main opposition party this month to defect to Mam Sonando’s Beehive Democratic Society Party.

Khuey Sina, who is also a CNRP deputy executive, will join former CNRP official Ouk Suy in Sonando’s party, which the veteran politician resurrected this year after saying he had become disillusioned with CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha.

Like Suy, who penned his defection letter on December 3, Sina accused the CNRP heads of nepotism and poor leadership, and predicted that should the opposition follow its current trajectory, it would lose ground in the 2018 national election.

“In this democratic boat, one group rows ahead, one group rows back, one group rows to one side and another group rows to one side. It does not go ahead,” Sina said, before recounting details of his own grassroots political poll.

”So far [the CNRP], in at least one province, would lose two seats and in 17 large provinces, would lose 34 seats, so of its 55 [seats] there would remain 21.”

Dismissing Sina’s survey, CNRP spokesman Ou Chanrith said Sina’s defection would not affect the party.

“We are a big party and millions of citizens continue supporting us in Cambodia. Sometimes we cannot satisfy each individual,” he said.