By Thai Newsroom Reporters
A CERTAIN FACTION inside the Palang Pracharath with half a dozen MPs remarkably representing the same upper central province will likely skip over to the Bhumjaithai and seek re-election under the banners of the core of the current coalition government, according to partisan sources.
Palang Pracharath secretary-general Santi Prompat’s clique of six renegade MPs of Petchabun including Deputy Public Health Minister Worachot Sukhonkhajorn quietly planned to depart from the military-installed Palang Pracharath to the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai and contest the next race to parliament anticipated around the upcoming March under the tickets of the now-ruling party under de facto boss Newin Chidchob.
Practically on his behalf, Santi has managed to have his son Pattana Prompat assume the seat of public health minister in the Bhumjaithai-led government.
With the anticipated departure of Santi’s clique from the Palang Pracharath led by former deputy prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan despite the party being currently one of the current coalition partners in foreseeable future, a dozen other Palang Pracharath MPs might probably follow suit leaving for other camps sooner or later.
Meanwhile, Somsak Thepsuthin and Suriya Juangroongruangkit, the duo who currently head Sam Mitr Group inside the Pheu Thai with several MPs of upper central constituencies under their command are largely speculated to leave the previously-ruling party either for the Bhumjaithai or Klatham, one of the current coalition partners under de facto party boss Thammanat Prompao, the partisan sources said.
Somsak and Suriya had earlier assumed varied portfolios of cabinet in previous governments including the seats of public health minister and transport minister in the last Pheu Thai-led government respectively.
Apart from upper and lower central constituencies, both Newin’s and Thammanat’s camps will likely interest many renegade MPs of southern constituencies who will seek re-election under the tickets of either one, especially those who are currently attached to the Democrat, now part of the opposition bloc, the partisan sources said.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has earlier pledged to dissolve the House of Representatives to call a general election in a four-month time after his government has formally delivered their policy statement, rendering a tentative schedule for the nationwide race to parliament to be set for as soon as in March or April at the latest.
Nevertheless, the Bhumjaithai-attached prime minister might probably opt out by dissolving the House sooner than anticipated to avoid a censure motion which could possibly be launched by the Pheu Thai or People’s, according to government critics.
No House dissolution could be legally done after a censure motion has been formally lodged in the House, forcing the executive branch to go through a marathon, scathing ordeal which usually warrants votes of confidence and no-confidence on any targeted members of cabinet including the head of government.
NIDA Poll director Suwicha Pao-ari forecast that Anutin might probably dissolve the House to call a general election as soon as in the upcoming December, given the possibility of preparations might be looming on the part of the opposition bloc for the lodging of a censure motion against the Bhumjaithai-led coalition government at any time from now.
The much-heralded public referendum for the people nationwide to decide whether the coup junta-designed, current constitution should be rewritten as a whole or amended to some extent by the so-called Constitution Amendment Committee might probably not occur at the same time as the people go to the polls to pick their MPs, the NIDA academic commented.
Most of the total 200 current senators, viewed as invariably staunch and submissive to the whims of the now-ruling Bhumjaithai will likely stand in the way of constitution amendment whilst Anutin and the rank and file of Newin’s camp would be wise enough to not tell the “blue” senior lawmakers what to do about it, he said.
In Thai political jargon, the colour blue refers to the Bhumjaithai, red refers to the Pheu Thai and orange to the People’s.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Palang Pracharath secretary-general Santi Prompat. Photos – Amarin TV
Insert: NIDA Poll director Suwicha Pao-ari. Photo – Thai Rath
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