NEWS THINK
PRADIT RUANGDIT
We now know who the ''gang of four'' actually are, thanks mainly to members of the Isan Pattana faction of the People Power party (PPP), who are determined to wrest dominance of the party from them. The gang of four is understood to refer to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, his secretary-general Theerapol Nopparampa, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee and Newin Chidchob, an influential figure who controls a large PPP faction of MPs in the Northeast.
The Isan Pattana group has exposed the alleged misconduct of Mr Theerapol, accused Mr Newin of bossing around cabinet ministers and telling them to raise funds to set up a new party and form a coalition government with the Democrat party in the event the PPP is dissolved.
In their latest outburst, the Isan Pattana group have announced in no uncertain terms that Mr Newin and the gang are a bunch of ungrateful upstarts who show disregard for the real big boss of the PPP.
Initially, Mr Newin's group thought the Isan Pattana MPs were trying to blackmail them because they were not happy with the latest cabinet reshuffle in which Preecha Rengsomboonsuk, one of the core leaders of Isan Pattana, was left without a cabinet portfolio. Mr Preecha is known to be the group's financier.
Initially, Mr Newin's group thought money would keep them quiet.
But as the situation unfolded, Mr Newin and his allies gradually realised they were underestimating the group.
The Isan Pattana group are not likely to stop exposing the alleged irregularities in the government, as long as Mr Newin and his allies keep spreading their tentacles of power in all directions and stepping on the toes of other PPP factions.
While spearheading attacks against the gang of four, the Isan Pattana group is not alone.
Others who are upset with Mr Newin and his gang have stepped forward to support the Isan Pattana group.
Former interior minister Chalerm Yubamrung is a case in point. Even though he put on a brave face after being booted out of the cabinet and said there were no hard feelings between him and Mr Samak, Mr Chalerm said he could not help but suspect that elements led by Mr Newin may have been responsible for the changes in the cabinet line-up.
The Isan Pattana faction decided to take action against the gang after they received a signal from the big boss, who is also unhappy with the actions of Mr Newin's group.
They are confident they will have the support of the big boss, other PPP factions and Mr Chalerm to reduce the power of Mr Newin's group.
Isan Pattana MPs claim they have information that Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law, would quit the cabinet in a bid to show the government has now fallen from favour with the real big boss.
No matter how the internal feud in the PPP ends, every faction still needs a helping hand from the big boss to run in the next elections.
The PPP may be left in turmoil for a time until the big boss realises the situation may get out of hand.
By that time, the big boss should step in to restore order in the PPP. The big boss cannot afford to let the party splinter as he still needs it to protect him from a raft of allegations.
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