Nakhon Ratchasima is the next destination for the "Three Companions" to try to convince former Pheu Thai MPs to switch their allegiances to a party supporting Prayut Chan-o-cha to be an outside prime minister after an election.
A Pheu Thai source said on Wednesday Suriya Juangroongruangkit and Somsak Thepsutin, two of the group called the "Three Companions", will be in the northeastern province as soon as Friday to canvass Pheu Thai members.
They planned to coax former Pheu Thai MPs in Nakhon Ratchasima into joining the Palang Pracharath Party in the next poll, the source said. Their targets are three members of the Rattanaseth clan: former list-MP Wirat and two former constituency MPs, Tassineeya and Athirat.
The source expected them to defect given the close relations between the family members and Preecha Rengsomboonsuk, a key associate of the "Three Companions".
"The Three Companions" refers to three persons whose first name starts with an "S". They are former transport minister Mr Suriya, Wang Nam Yom faction leader Mr Somsak and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. All support the regime-backed Palang Pracharath but only Mr Suriya and Mr Somsak are publicly leading the campaign to woo Pheu Thai members into the new political camp.
The two were in Loei on Monday with the same mission.