By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PALANG PRACHARATH secretary-general Thammanat Prompao today (Oct.3) categorically dismissed hearsay that he would sooner or later depart from the coalition partner again amidst sustained conflict with a quickly-promoted partisan member.
The agriculture & cooperatives minister denied that he had developed any conflict with Natural Resources & Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan, brother of Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan and head of the party’s advisory board.
Thammanat made his comments in the wake of speculation that Prawit has quietly planned to not only call it quits as leader of the third largest coalition partner but as the sole party-listed MP and be replaced by his brother and deputy Palang Pracharath leader Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn respectively.
The Palang Pracharath secretary-general said he will undoubtedly perform under command of the party leader whilst the personal relationship between the head of the party’s advisory board and himself remains close and cordial. But Thammanat declined to say whether he would continue to stay with the Palang Pracharath if Prawit ever decided to call it quits at any time.
Thammanat would likely return to the Pheu Thai under de facto party boss Thaksin Shinawatra if he opted out by leaving the Palang Pracharath for a second time in barely two years. He used to be attached to the Thai Rak Thai led by the deposed prime minister over the last couple of decades.
The Palang Pracharath had registered an uncompromisable internal conflict among their rank and file which prompted Thammanat to lead an exodus of 21 MPs out of the party and temporarily joined a little-known Thai Economic.
However, Thammanat and members of his clique finally returned to Prawit’s camp under whose tickets they contested last May’s election with himself consequently taking hold of the secretary-general’s post for a second time.
Prawit has earlier announced that he would no longer take part in power play following the nationwide election in which he had contested in vain for head of government.
The former deputy prime minister said he literally closed down his home in the premises of the First Infantry Regiment to any politically-motivated visitors though his adjacent office of the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation is still open.
CAPTION:
Top from left: Thammanat Prompao, Patcharawat Wongsuwan and Prawit Wongsuwan. Photo: Matichon
Front Page: Thammanat Prompao. Photo: INN News
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