By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE REELING BHUMJAITHAI hosted a dinner for coalition partners attended by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, among others, in Pathum Thani last evening though the second largest coalition party is currently facing a dilemma over their own survival.
The Thai food dinner at a restaurant in Sam Khok district of Bangkok’s northern outlying province was held amidst unexpressed, understandable concerns among coalition partners over the possibility that the host Bhumjaithai might be dissolved by court in relation to a court verdict recently delivered against the Buriram-based, 71-MPs party’s former secretary-general Saksayam Chidchob, brother of de facto party boss Newin Chidchob.
Saksayam had been deprived by the Constitutional Court of a ministerial status in retroactive fashion due to his holding shares in Buri Charoen Construction Ltd.Part. whilst performing as transport minister during a previous government. The court verdict prompted him to resign as Bhumjaithai secretary-general and a party-listed MP.
Newin’s party could possibly be dissolved by the Constitutional Court if his brother’s convicted misconduct was ultimately judged as being tantamount to corruption in office with his contractor firm having been earlier awarded construction projects run by government agencies over the past several years.
Apart from the Pheu Thai-endorsed prime minister Srettha and Bhumjaithai leader/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, VIP guests to the Bhumjaithai-hosted dinner party included Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of de facto party boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra, Palang Pracharath secretary-general/Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao, Natural Resources & Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan who is a brother of party leader Prawit Wongsuwan, Ruam Thai Sang Chart leader/Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathawipark, Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Thaksin’s right-hand man Prommin Lertsuridej who concurrently performs as secretary to the prime minister.
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Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and other ministers as well as Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra attending the dinner hosted by Bhumjaithai. Photos: Matichon
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