By Thai Newsroom Reporters
NATTAPONG KUNAKORNWONG, son-in-law of de facto Pheu Thai boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra, will likely contest an upcoming election as one of a trio of partisan candidates for prime minister, according to a partisan source.
Nattapong, spouse of Thaksin’s daughter Pintongta Shinawatra, is largely speculated to contest alongside former transport minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, who currently performs as Pheu Thai electoral campaign director, and another running mate for head of a post-election government under the banners of Thaksin’s camp.
Thaksin has reportedly resolved to have the Pheu Thai rank and file contest the nationwide election speculated to be held as soon as in early February after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolves the House of Representatives probably early next month to preempt censure debate which could possibly be filed by the opposition bloc against him and any other members of the Bhumjaithai-led cabinet.
Whether or not Suriya will eventually stay put with Thaksin’s camp and seek re-election under the Pheu Thai tickets alongside several Pheu Thai MPs mostly representing upper-central constituencies under his command will largely depend on a final decision of former public health minister Somsak Thepsuthin, the partisan source said.
Both are known as a duo of leaders of Sam Mit Group, a faction of Pheu Thai MPs inside Thaksin’s camp, now part of the opposition bloc.
Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat might probably be named the other partisan candidate for prime minister alongside Nattapong and Suriya, regardless of the contentious phenomenon in which no Pheu Thai leaders had been originally named partisan contestants for prime minister since the last several years.
Thaksin’s other daughter/court-deposed prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had been named one of a trio of Pheu Thai contestants for prime minister vying in the 2023 election well before she was named party leader who happened to be Pheu Thai MP Chonlanan Srikaeo at the time.
However, the naming of a trio of Pheu Thai candidates for prime minister is yet to be officially proclaimed whilst the Bhumjaithai, core of the current coalition government, has already named Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapat, Commerce Minister Supajee Suthumpun and Anutin as partisan contestants for prime minister and the People’s, the largest opposition party, has also named People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut, Sirikanya Tansakun and Veerayooth Kanchoochat as partisan contestants for prime minister.
The neo-conservative Pheu Thai, the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob and the reformist People’s plus the ultra-conservative Klatham, a current coalition partner under de facto party boss/Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao are more or less anticipated to get most MPs with a total 400 constituency-based MP seats and a total 100 party-listed MP seats at stake.
CAPTIONS:
De facto Pheu Thai boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra’s son-in-law Nattapong Kunakornwong. About photo – Thai Rath, Front Page photo – PPTVHD36
Insert – De facto Pheu Thai boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra flanked by his daughter Pintongta Shinawatra and her husband Nattapong Kunakornwong. Photo – Thai Rath
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