Pheu Thai deputy spokesman Jirayu Huangsap has lost his job over his comment boasting about the party's strong chances of winning the March 3 Bangkok governor election.
Jirayu: ‘Dismissal unreasonable’
The party's defeat in the poll has been blamed on the remark.
Pheu Thai leader Charupong Ruangsuwan had signed an order to remove Mr Jirayu and another spokesperson, Sunisa Lertpakawat, from their posts, a party source said yesterday.
However, Lt Sunisa was instead promoted to a deputy spokeswoman of the PM's Office, the source added.
Mr Jirayu publicly boasted about Pheu Thai's chances of success ahead of the Bangkok governor race claiming that even if it sent a power pole to stand in the election, it was likely to win.
Mr Jirayu yesterday said he believed he was kicked out of the party's spokesman team because he is a close aide of party veteran Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan.
"There is no reason to remove me except that I'm on Khunying Sudarat's side. I clearly showed my support for the nomination of Khunying Sudarat as the party's candidate for the Bangkok governor poll," he said.
Mr Jirayu said he had done his best as a party deputy spokesman, so the dismissal order was unreasonable.
"I would like to ask Mr Phumtham [Wechayachai, Pheu Thai secretary-general] why he hates Khunying Sudarat so much that the party has to sack me," the Bangkok MP said.