The Setthakij Thai Party will have no role in this week's censure debate despite having declared allegiance to the opposition after cutting ties with the government coalition, say key opposition politicians.
Both Pheu Thai Party and the Move Forward Party (MFP) indicated that no-confidence debate slots from Tuesday until Friday are full and there is no room for Setthakij Thai to join.
The party with its 16 MPs last week formally pulled out of the coalition and vowed to join the opposition in grilling Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and 10 cabinet ministers targeted for a censure motion.
MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon yesterday said opposition parties never discussed including Setthakij Thai in the debate.
He added the opposition bloc's pre-debate meeting tomorrow will not talk about Setthakij Thai participation in censuring the government. "Everything has already been arranged," Mr Chaithawat said.
Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangtong admitted that the opposition had initially planned to bring up whether Setthakij Thai should take part in the censure debate.
"But that doesn't seem necessary now. Besides, Capt Thamanat [Prompow, leader of the Setthakij Thai] has not asked to take part in the debate," he said.
Setthakij Thai could leave its queries on issues with the bloc so opposition parties can raise them during the debate.
Some opposition members earlier reacted with scepticism to Setthakij Thai breaking away from the government. They doubted where the party's loyalty lies.
Setthakij Thai announced it was severing ties with the government so it could concentrate on being an opposition party.
Capt Thamanat previously served as secretary-general of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). He was accused of trying to oust Gen Prayut from power in the previous censure debate by plotting to join with small parties and some renegade PPRP MPs to cast a no-confidence vote against the premier in September last year.
Meanwhile, chief government whip Nirote Sunthornlekha said yesterday the ideals of Setthakij Thai could not fit in with the opposition. "Setthakij Thai's DNA is not a compatible match with that of the opposition," he said.
He was responding to remarks by critics who said several Setthakij Thai members, including Capt Thamanat, maintain close ties with Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the deputy prime minister and the PPRP leader.
Mr Nirote added a prominent figure in Setthakij Thai had told him that if the government ever needed "help" gathering votes in parliament, he would rise to the occasion.