By Thai Newsroom Reporters
VARAWUT SILPA-ARCHA might probably lead a departure of Chart Thai Pattana MPs for the Bhumjaithai, core of the current coalition government, in order to seek re-election under the tickets of the ruling, ultra-conservative camp under de facto boss Newin Chidchob, a partisan source said today (Nov.20).
Varawut, a former member of cabinet in previous governments and the current leader of the Chart Thai Pattana, now being part of the opposition bloc, was informally obliged to respond to the de facto Bhumjaithai boss in a few days from today as to whether he will eventually lead the speculated exodus of 10 Chart Thai Pattana MPs including himself from the Supanburi-based party to the Buriram-based camp which is scheduled to hold a general caucus on the upcoming Sunday.
Nevertheless, Varawut and his partisan followers will formally stay with their current party and will not skip over to Newin’s camp until Prime Minister/Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul has dissolved the House of Representatives probably as soon as next month to call a general election in a 60-day period as provided by law or by the upcoming February, the partisan source said.
All elected lawmakers are legally allowed to switch parties and be formally registered as members of their new camps for a minimum of 30 days prior to an election date.
Anutin has earlier admitted that he might probably return power to the people by dissolving the House sooner than earlier anticipated due to his Bhumjaithai-led government being a minority one which would likely be ousted with no-confidence votes from a majority opposition following censure debate.
The prime minister who has earlier pledged to dissolve the House by the end of the upcoming January so that the general election would be held in March might eventually do so as soon as next month, prompting the race to parliament to occur in February, however.
Varawut who has been earlier approached by the Pheu Thai to join the current opposition party under de facto boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra purportedly in exchange for his being named one of a trio of Pheu Thai contestants for prime minister in the upcoming election would undoubtedly prefer to keep his camp in government after the nationwide race to parliament.
Five of the 10 Chart Thai Pattana MPs currently represent the lower-central province of Supanburi where Varawut’s father/the late prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa had practically founded as the party’s largest stronghold, three speak for the adjacent, lower-central Nakhon Pathom and one represents the northeastern Roi Et whilst Varawut is the only party-listed lawmaker of the splinter camp.
In another development, Anutin confirmed that Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapat and Commerce Minister Supajee Suthumpun will be named among a trio of Bhumjaithai candidates for prime minister in the upcoming election in addition to himself who was the only candidate for prime minister under the banners of Newin’s camp in the 2023 election.
Anutin’s personal hype among Isaan constituents, especially those in lower northeastern border areas, has reportedly risen to some extent since he rose to power in the wake of sustained Thai-Cambodian border conflict.
Newin’s camp which has evidently shared bases of popular support with Thaksin’s camp in nearly all northeastern constituencies is more or less speculated to sweep most MP seats for the Isaan region, the country’s largest portion, in the nationwide race to parliament.
Some of the current and former Pheu Thai MPs representing northeastern constituencies are expected to skip over to the Bhumjaithai and seek re-election under the tickets of Newin’s camp whilst others representing northern and upper-central constituencies are speculated to leave for the Klatham, currently being a coalition partner under de facto party boss/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao.
CAPTION:
Chart Thai Pattana leader Varawut Silpa-archa, in pink jacket, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a trip to Chiang Mai last year. Above composite photo – Amarin TV, Front Page photo – Thai Rath
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