By Thai Newsroom Reporters
RENEGADE MP THAMMANAT Prompao is apparently leading another exodus of a dozen-plus MPs from one party of which he has already resigned as top leader to another.
Thammanat and the 13 MPs under his command have practically deserted the Thai Economic Party, automatically resulting in the dissolution of the party’s executive board under his previous leadership and the setting up of a new one today (Oct. 10).
However, all 11 members of the new Thai Economic executive board are either little known or completely unknown to the public and none is an MP, compared to those of the former one, most of whom being MPs.
The former top leader of the Thai Economic Party alongside those legislators, most of whom were elected constituency-based MPs, is largely speculated to return to the Pheu Thai Party, the largest in the opposition bloc, under whose tickets they might probably seek reelection in a nationwide race to parliament expected early next year.
Thammanat had earlier belonged to the Pheu Thai Party before he joined the Palang Pracharath Party and was named secretary-general of the largest coalition partner.
The MP of Payao was deposed as deputy agriculture & cooperatives minister following last year’s censure/no-confidence motion, thus prompting him to lead an exodus of 21 MPs including himself from the Palang Pracharath Party, the largest coalition partner, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan earlier this year.
Nevertheless, only 13 of those “renegade” MPs currently stay with Thammanat whilst the others have defected to the Bhumjaithai Party, the second largest coalition partner.
Former Thai Economic party registrar MP Boonsing Warinrak earlier said it would be very unlikely for Thammanat’s clique to return to the Palang Pracharath Party as long as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who has earlier locked horns with him remains in power.
Prawit, Prayut and Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda are widely known as a powerful “Sam Por” trio who have reportedly adopted some kind of “fraternal” relationship among themselves since all had earlier assumed the post of army chief.
However, it remains to be seen whether Prawit might finally name Prayut as a Palang Pracharath candidate for head of a post-election government again whilst the party boss himself might probably be so named.
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Thammanat Prompao is expected to rejoin the Pheu Thai Party. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Matichon
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