Yaowapa is back for Pheu Thai constituency-based contestants

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

YAOWAPA WONGSAWAT, sister of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has come back to the political arena to help electoral contestants running in constituency mode under the Pheu Thai banners, albeit in behind-the-scenes fashion, a partisan source confirmed today (Feb.28).

Known as head of Wang Bua Barn faction which used to perform among the Pheu Thai rank and file, Yaowapa is consolidating forces behind the partisan race for MP in northern constituencies and elsewhere in an upcoming general election, said the partisan source who only spoke on condition of anonymity.

Nicknamed “Jay Daeng”, Yaowapa is quietly playing her part in the Pheu Thai campaign to win all 11 constituencies of Chiang Mai, the Shinawatra family’s hometown.

Yaowapa, spouse of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, is not only taking care of the Pheu Thai electoral contestants running in the northern constituencies but those vying in some of the upper-central and lower-northeastern ones, the source said.

Thaksin’s sister is known to have maintained personally close ties with heads of several factions within the Pheu Thai rank and file, including those headed by Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin and former deputy finance minister Waradep Ratanakorn of Kamphaengphet.

Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyabhirom who was sentenced in 2017 to 42 years in jail for misconduct charges involving a scandalous government-to-government rice dealing during the time of deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was known to have staunchly worked for Yaowapa.

However, the authorities have reportedly found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Yaowapa over a separate rice dealing case in which the convicted Boonsong turned out to be a personal witness.

Thaksin, largely viewed as de facto Pheu Thai boss, has repeatedly forecast a landslide victory for his camp with as many as 300 MP seats and his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra being pitted as a partisan contender for prime minister.

Nevertheless, possibilities remain to the extent that the Pheu Thai be finally dissolved by court if evidently found to have been masterminded by the self-exiled premier, albeit in literally distant, discreet manners.

CAPTIONS:

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yaowapa Wongsawat, top, and Yaowapa Wongsawat alone, Front Page. Top photo: Naewna, Front Page photo: Sanook.com

Insert: Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Photo: Thai Rath

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