Pheu Thai bloc looks to Bhumjaithai
Leaders of six parties forming an anti-junta coalition ratified a brief but firm joint statement at their press conference on Wednesday morning, saying 255 MPs were enlisted to prevent the junta from retaining power.
Pheu Thai’s Viroj Pao-in, Future Forward’s Thanthorn Jungroongruangkit, Seri Ruam Thai’s Sereephisut Temeeyaves, Prachachat Thai’s Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Puea Chat’s Songkram Kitlertphairoj and Phalang Puangchon Thai’s Nikom Boonviset ratified the statement in front of scores of reporters.
They urged parties that remain non-committal to join the effort to stop the junta from clinging to power.
The Bhumjaithai Party, which won at least 39 constituency MP seats on Sunday, is in the spotlight as a possible kingmaker in the post-election equation.
It had been suggested that the Pheu Thai-led coalition could lure Bhumjaithai by offering its leader Anutin Charnvirakul the prime minister’s post.
But Pheu Thai secretary general Phumtham Wehcayachai on Wednesday denied there was any such deal on offer and that the nomination of a premier would be discussed later.
He said Pheu Thai had never offered to yield the post to Anutin.
