By Thai Newsroom Reporters
BHUMJAITHAI PARTY leader Anutin Charnvirakul today (Nov.17) categorically denied he had ever persuaded deputy Democrat Party leader Sathit Pitutecha to go party-hopping.
Anutin who concurrently acts as deputy prime minister-cum-public health minister said he had never extended an informal invitation to Sathit who concurrently performs as deputy public health minister to join the second-largest coalition partner.
Branding the Bhumjaithai Party as a “thriving” one, Anutin said his camp is currently run by a competent leadership and would have no executive position for Sathit who, he said, would have a promising future at the one to which he currently belongs.
Anutin said he and Sathit have worked together quite well at the Ministry of Public Health and there would be nothing more than that.
Nevertheless, Sathit earlier told reporters that Anutin had asked him to defect to the Bhumjaithai camp, de facto headed by Newin Chidchob, and that he politely turned it down.
Anutin, Sathit and former Democrat Party leader/former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva held a dinner talk at a Bangkok restaurant recently, fueling speculation about party-hopping bids which have reportedly emerged amidst sustained conflict of interest between the Bhumjaithai Party and Democrat Party over free-marijuana legislation initiated by the former and opposed by the latter.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Bhumjaithai Party leader-cum-Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, right, together with deputy Democrat Party leader-cum-Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha.
Front Page: Anutin, Sathit and former Democrat Party leader/former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at a Bangkok restaurant recently. Both photos: Thai Rath
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