By Thai Newsroom Reporters
SOMSAK THEPSUTHIN, co-leader of Sam Mit Group inside the Pheu Thai, the potential, second largest coalition partner, was quietly struggling to grab a ministerial seat after his faction had landed victories for dozens of their protege contestants in last month’s election.
Somsak, known as an entrusted partner of Suriya Juangroongruangkit, the other co-leader of the Sam Mit faction, was considerably disappointed at the allocation by de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra’s family members, namely his ex-spouse Potjaman Damapong and his sister Yaowapa Wongsawat, of portfolios in a potential Bhumjaithai-led cabinet under re-elected, designate-prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul since he was denied a ministerial seat, a partisan source said today (March 11).
Somsak and Suriya had managed to have dozens of their proteges elected mostly in northeastern, upper-central and mid-central constituencies but only Suriya was probably given the agriculture & cooperatives portfolio whilst Somsak was nowhere on the list of the potential Pheu Thai members of the Anutin II cabinet.
Given the circumstances under which nearly half the total 74 Pheu Thai MPs are practically attached to the Sam Mit faction inside Thaksin’s camp and eight ministerial seats under the Pheu Thai quota were handed out from de facto Bhumjaithai boss Newin Chidchob, both faction leaders were supposed to be given a ministerial seat each.
Their assuming the Pheu Thai partisan leadership notwithstanding, Julapun Amornvivat and Prasert Janthararuangthong as party leader and party secretary-general respectively, may have been considered less “justified” to get a ministerial seat than the Sam Mit faction leaders in regard to the number of MPs under their respective command and specifically the Suriya-borne burdens of the party’s campaign finance during the nationwide election, the partisan source said.
Julapun who has not had a single MP of his own after all Pheu Thai contestants had been defeated in all 10 constituencies of his home province of Chiang Mai and Prasert who has only had one MP, namely his son Patchara Janthararuangthong, to represent their home province of Nakhon Ratchasima were more or less anticipated to be given ministerial seats.
Julapun, invariably viewed as one of Yaowapa’s proteges whilst assuming the party leadership in an in-name-only manner, might probably be named education minister whilst Thaksin’s sister’s son Yodchanan Wongsawat might probably be named higher education, science, research & innovation minister.
Nevertheless, the Sam Mit faction which had earlier switched from one party to another over the last decade could possibly repeat their party-hopping venture at any given time again unless their demands for “preferable” cabinet portfolios were met by the Shinawatra family.
Over the last three decades, Somsak has taken charge of varied cabinet portfolios including the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Tourism & Sports besides the non-portfolio position of a deputy prime minister whilst Suriya has taken charge of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry in addition to the position of a deputy prime minister.
CAPTIONS:
Sam Mit co-leaders Somsak Thepsuthin, left above and second left Front Page, and Suriya Juangroongruagkit, right above and second right Front Page. Above photo – Thai Rath, Front Page photo – MNG Online
Insert – Pheu Thai Party leader Julapun Amornvivat, right, and Secretary-General Prasert Janthararuangthong, left. Photo – Amarin TV
Also read:
Renegade Democrat MPs might vote Anutin for head of Bhumjaithai-led govt
Bhumjaithai-led govt set up with 291 coalition MPs but without Klatham or Democrats
Yodchanan tipped to be named Pheu Thai leader
Newin to have final say over Bhumjaithai ministerial seats
People’s to file duty-negligence, misconduct lawsuit against Election Commission
322 Thais rescued from high-risk areas in Middle East
New govt urged to build energy security amid stagflation fears
BA confident of Thai tourism industry despite Middle East turmoil
US hasn’t asked to use U-Tapao Airport: Minister
Am Cyanide acquitted in one murder case
Thai cargo ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz
