Defections may cripple Pheu Thai

Defections may cripple Pheu Thai

Pracharath believed to be courting MPs

Pheu Thai Party stalwart and heir-apparent to the party leadership Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, seen here at a June 7 party meeting, faces an uphill battle to halt the poaching of prominent ex-MPs by the pro-military Pracharath Party. (File photo)
Pheu Thai Party stalwart and heir-apparent to the party leadership Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, seen here at a June 7 party meeting, faces an uphill battle to halt the poaching of prominent ex-MPs by the pro-military Pracharath Party. (File photo)

The Pheu Thai Party has been thrown off balance as it faces the prospect of nearly half of its former MPs in the Northeast, its key stronghold, defecting to a pro-regime party.

Speculation is rife they are being courted to join the Pracharath Party, seen as a potential vehicle to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should he attempt to reclaim the premiership after the general election slated for February.

Among the potential defectors is a group led by former MPs who represented Loei and former natural resources and environment minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk.

Somkid Chueakhong, an ex-Pheu Thai MP for Ubon Ratchathani, said Mr Preecha had established a strong presence in the northeastern province of Loei. If he were to leave Pheu Thai, it would he hard to say if the party could maintain its foothold there, he added.

"Party executives will be able to find someone else to contest the poll in the province. We'll still have to fight even if we stand little chance. But we hope Mr Preecha and his group would be the last to leave," Mr Somkid said.

Prayuth Siripanich, a former MP for Maha Sarakham, said Mr Preecha's group was unlikely to be the last batch poached by a military-backed party.

He said if Mr Preecha were to defect that would adversely affect Pheu Thai, which would have to step up its efforts.

"All I can say is times would get tougher for them, almost critically so," Mr Prayuth said, adding that about 40% of former MPs for Isan would probably follow suit.

Mr Preecha's case highlights how high-calibre ex-MPs are being targeted using various methods of persuasion including money and even intimidation tactics, Mr Prayuth said.

A Pheu Thai source said the Pracharath Party has upped its campaign to woo Pheu Thai politicians into its fold, including three former MPs in Loei -- Mr Preecha, his wife Plengmanee and Wanchai Busaba.

The source said politicians in other northeastern provinces are at risk of being poached, notably Wirat Rattanaseth, a former Pheu Thai MP for Nakhon Ratchasima who is known to have close ties with Mr Preecha.

The source said Phaijit Sriworakhan, a former MP for Nakhon Phanom, is also being targeted, though the source believed that he would stay loyal to Pheu Thai.

Mr Preecha, his wife Ms Plengmanee and Mr Wanchai all turned up at a provincial airport in Loei yesterday to welcome Suriya Jungrungreangkit, a former transport minister who once served as a member of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, and other figures including Sukhothai politician Somsak Thepsuthin and Phirom Phonwiset, a key figure from the Pracharath Party.

Mr Preecha told the media that he, Mr Suriya and Mr Somsak have formed a group calling itself the "Three Companions" with Mr Suriya as its leader.

Mr Preecha said the group has not yet decided whether to defect. "The future is not certain," he said.

He plans to meet more former MPs to quiz them on their ambitions and see if those with common aspirations wish to join their group, he added.

"If any party pursues policies that correspond with those pushed by our group, we're ready to support it," Mr Preecha said, adding that several former MPs in the Northeast were interested in teaming up.

One political source said the most desirable ex-MPs being sought are those who can win seats on the strength of their long-established popularity rather than by relying on the reputation of their party. Such MPs never failed in their 2011 electoral bids, the source added.

Those who failed in the 2011 poll were considered "second-grade", the source said.

Pheu Thai had the highest number of "grade A" former MPs in the Northeast in that year's poll.

Of the 126 House seats in the region up for grabs, Pheu Thai secured 104 while the Bhumjaithai Party won 13 seats.

The Democrats and Chartthaipattana Pheu Pandin both gained four seats each while the Chartthaipattana won only one, the source said.

Even courting second-grade MPs would pose a threat to the Pheu Thai, the source said.

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