Former red-shirt leader and key member of the Pheu Thai party, Nutthawut Saikua, has ceased working for the party, in protest over the inclusion of the Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties in the current Pheu Thai-led 11-party coalition.

In a TV interview this morning (Monday), Nutthawut said that he has decided to disassociate himself from a Pheu Thai-led government, adding that he has conveyed his decision to fugitive former prime ministers Thaksin, Yingluck and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as well as Srettha Thavisin, a prime ministerial candidate.

The former red-shirt leader said that he has stuck with the party all along, even in bad times, and has waited until he was sure that Srettha was likely to be selected as prime minister, but then decided “it’s about time for me to go.”

Nutthawut made clear that he has not quit the Pheu Thai party per se, but is just disassociating himself from any new government it may lead which includes Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation. He also said that he holds no grudge against members of those two parties.