By Thai Newsroom Reporters
SOMSAK THEPSUTHIN, co-leader of the Sam Mit faction inside the Pheu Thai, is now taking charge of an electoral campaign for upper-central constituencies during a run-up to the Feb.8 general election, given solid support from the renegade Anucha Nakhasai, according to a partisan source.
The former public health minister is invariably viewed as one of the duo of Sam Mit faction leaders alongside former transport minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit who is contesting as one of a trio of Pheu Thai candidates for prime minister in the nationwide race to parliament.
Somsak is looking after Pheu Thai contestants running in constituency-based mode throughout five upper-central provinces namely Sukhothai, Pitsanulok, Petchaboon, Pichit and Nakhon Sawan, plus western constituencies of Tak and a lower-central constituency of Ayutthaya.
Anucha, a former deputy agriculture & cooperatives minister, has departed from the disintegrating Ruam Thai Sang Chart to the Pheu Thai under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra with intent to seek re-election in his home, central province of Chainart and play his renewed roles of endorsing Somsak’s electoral campaign for those vying for constituency-based MPs under the Pheu Thai tickets.
Anucha had been originally attached to the Pheu Thai, acted as secretary-general of the Palang Pracharath and then joined the Ruam Thai Sang Chart before he has recently, quietly returned to Thaksin’s camp.
However, Suriya who is running among a trio of Pheu Thai contenders for prime minister alongside Thaksin’s nephew Yodchanan Wongsawat and party leader Julapun Amornvivat is undoubtedly expected to provide “resources” for use in campaign finance for those vying in constituency-based mode under care of Somsak in addition to concrete support from Anucha, the partisan source said.
Meanwhile, Thaksin’s sister/Yodchanan’s mother Yaowapa Wongsawat is taking charge of Pheu Thai contestants running for northern constituencies in the Feb.8 election.
Yaowapa, spouse of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, had practically taken command of ex-MPs attached to the Wang Bua Barn faction inside Thaksin’s camp over the last couple of decades.
Considered as Pheu Thai’s archrivals throughout the northern constituencies are the Klatham under de facto party boss/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao and the People’s.
Meanwhile, Thammanat said today (Dec.23) more than 60 ex-MPs had skipped over from varied parties to his own with intent to seek re-election under the banners of their new camp including those who had earlier represented southern constituencies and elsewhere.
The de facto Klatham boss apparently referred to a dozen-plus, ex-Democrat MPs under care of former party leader Chalermchai Sri-on and former party secretary-general Dej-it Khaotong. Most are seeking re-election in southern constituencies under the tickets of Thammanat’s camp.
Thammanat confirmed that he himself will be the sole Klatham contender for prime minister whilst major rival camps may respectively send a trio of contestants for head of a post-election government.
CAPTIONS:
Co-leader of Sam Mit faction within Pheu Thai Party Somsak Thepsuthin. Above photo – PPTVHD36, Front Page photo – Thai Rath
Insert – Former deputy agriculture & cooperatives minister Anucha Nakhasai. Photo – Amarin TV
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