The Democrat Party has distanced itself from all actions taken by Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who was elected twice under the party's banner, after being unable to contact him for almost three months.
Democrat secretary-general Juti Krairiksh said on Thursday the party would no longer be responsible for MR Sukhumbhand's decisions and actions.
The party had been unable to contact and speak with him about several sensitive issues involving the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), he said.
Mr Juti denied the party's stance arose from any personal issue between Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and MR Sukhumbhand, or rumours of a planned new political party. It was a matter of respect for the party.
He said Democrat supporters working for the Bangkok governor should think about their present roles.
MR Sukhumbhand remained a deputy leader of the Democrat Party, because political parties were still prohibited from holding meetings, and MR Sukhumbhand could make his own decision whether or not to resign his party membership.
The statement released on Thursday said the Democrat Party had tried repeatedly, but to no avail, to contact MR Sukhumbhand to discuss issues of transparency in the city's administration.
Recently, a former Democrat MP called for an investigation into City Hall's multi-million-baht projects to install New Year illumination, surveillance cameras and the BMA's early extension of the BTS electric train concession.
The governor's spokesman, Wasant Meewong, said on Thursday that MR Sukhumbhand would continue in the job until the end of his term.
He had not attended any meeting of the party because the National Council for Peace and Order was prohibiting them, but he had talked with Mr Abhisit, the spokesman said. He wondered if the party's latest action resulted from the direct talks with Mr Abhisit.
"The BMTA has always cooperated in the examination of its work in the past seven years. I do not know why the issue was brought to a press conference at this moment.
"I believe there are attempts to prompt the prime minister to exercise Section 44 (of the interim constitution) on the BMA," Mr Wasant said. Section 44 gives the prime minister ultimate authority.
The Bangkok governor was currently overseas, Mr Wasant said. He was due back from Portugal on Saturday after signing a sister city agreement with Lisbon.