The Student Union of Thailand (SUT) on Monday called on the Democrat Party to join the Pheu Thai-led alliance to form a coalition government instead of assuming the role of the opposition, saying this was the only way to put an end to the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) power.
Parit Chiwarak, president of the SUT, said if the Democrat Party decided to sit in opposition as suggested by some party members, such a move would be tantamount to facilitating NCPO chief Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's prolonged grip on power.
He said the Democrat Party should make a decision as soon as possible as he arrived at the party's head office to submit his demand in writing to acting Democrat leader Jurin Laksanavisit. The letter was accepted by a party representative.
"Even though I'm not a party member and wasn't one of the 3.9 million people who voted for the party, I'm exercising my right to give my opinion and call on political parties to take a decisive stance.
"[I'm] calling on every party to set their ideology aside and join hands in stopping the NCPO from prolonging its stay in power," he said.
The SUT's move came after Parit Wacharasindhu, a so-called "New Dem" Democrat member, suggested that the party take on the role of the opposition in line with the party's ideology, rather than join any coalition government.
It appears party members are split over its next move following its March 24 election defeat. Some argue that the party should side with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) to form a rival coalition.
However, the party initially agreed during a meeting last week it would only decide whether to join any coalition government or sit in opposition after the Election Commission endorses the election result while the decision would be made by the party's new executive board and newly elected MPs.