The Pheu Thai Party could have a second home lined up in the event of party dissolution by the Constitution Court.
Yingluck: Tight-lipped on contingency plans
The court is currently preparing to hear petitions against the government-sponsored charter amendment bill.
If this leads to a "political accident" for the ruling party, Pheu Dharma Party leader Wallop Supariyasilp says he would welcome Pheu Thai members into the fold with open arms.
Mr Wallop is a former MP for Nan representing the People Power Party, Pheu Thai's previous incarnation. He registered Pheu Dharma with the Election Commission on Aug 23, 2010.
The Constitution Court will discuss on Thursday and Friday whether the charter amendment bill contravenes Section 68 of the constitution.
Proponents of the bill will testify to the court on Thursday while opponents will appear the next day.
If the charter change bid is deemed to violate the constitution, Pheu Thai could face dissolution.
In this event, Mr Wallop said Pheu Thai MPs can join his party if they agree with Pheu Dharma's ideology.
Several groups petitioned the court in late May claiming a section of the amendment bill authorising the formation of a constitution-drafting panel to write a new charter was tantamount to overthrowing the constitutional monarchy and an unconstitutional means of acquiring administrative power.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday she believes the Constitution Court will base its decision on facts in its consideration of the constitutionality of the bill.
She refused to say whether the government had contingency plans to handle any problems which might arise following the court's ruling.
Ms Yingluck urged both proponents and opponents of the legislation to act within the law amid speculation that the political situation might heat up again.
Kwanchai Praipana, leader of the Udon Thani red shirts, threatened on Sunday to call supporters to the "biggest rally ever" if the Constitution Court rules in favour of the bill's opponents.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said yesterday he believed the court would dismiss the petitions against the charter amendment bill.
Many senior judges, legal experts and academics agreed the proposed amendment of Section 291 did not contravene Section 68 of the constitution, he said.
Mr Chalerm said even if the court ruled that the bill was unconstitutional, it would not affect the government since Prime Minister Yingluck is not a member of the Pheu Thai executives.
If the court ruled to dissolve Pheu Thai, she could set up a new party in 60 days and the existing government could continue to administer the country.
However, he said he was unsure what the situation would be like if the ruling went against public sentiment.
Pimol Thampitakpong, who heads a team of Constitution Court spokesmen, said the court would for now only hear witnesses and not yet issue a ruling.
Mr Pimol said the petitioners against the bill have 16 witnesses, most of whom are senators and former drafters of the present constitution. They include Senator Somjet Boonthanom, Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun has been withdrawn from the list of witnesses.
Senator Somjet, who is one of the five people who petitioned the court, said he named Mr Anand as a witness without asking for his permission, because the Constitution Court wanted the names of witnesses by June 29.
He said he did so because Mr Anand was chairman of the drafting assembly of the 1997 constitution. However, Gen Somjet said he could not contact Mr Anand in time and apologised to the former premier for not asking him first.
Pheu Thai has six witnesses _ party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, party secretary-general and Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan, former drafter of the 1997 constitution Kanin Bunsuwan, former parliament president Pokin Polakul, House of Representatives secretary-general Pitoon Pumriran and Nonthaburi MP Udomdej Rattanasathian.
Deputy Democrat leader Thaworn Senneam, one of the petitioners' witnesses, yesterday submitted his written testimony to the court.
In his statement, he argued that the bill is unconstitutional because it seeks to change Section 291 so as to draw up a whole new charter.
Mr Thaworn said Section 291 only allows certain sections of the charter to be changed, not for drafting a new one.
He said the bill violates Section 291, which says the duty of drafting a new charter rests with parliament.
Mr Thaworn added Section 3 says sovereign power belongs to the people.
The King, as head of state, shall exercise such power through the legislative branch, the executive branch and the courts of justice.
Mr Thaworn noted that Pheu Thai had agreed to leave only Chapter 2, which deals with the monarchy, untouched.
But this did not cover other parts which refer to the monarchy, such as Section 151, which gives the monarch the power to return any bill of which he disapproves to parliament, Mr Thaworn said.
However, Mr Jarupong insisted that the bill will not affect the democratic regime or the monarchy.