Twenty renegade opposition Palang Pracharath party MPs had the whip withdrawn yesterday for breaching the party’s regulations.
The expulsions of the MPs, who are loyal to former secretary-general Thammanat Prompao, were approved by the party’s executive committee and the remaining MPs.
According to the party’s rules, at least three quarters of the combined votes of the executive committee and MPs are required to withdraw the party whip from a sitting member.
According to the Political Parties Act, an MP who has the whip withdrawn must become a member of another party within 30 days. Otherwise they lose their seat in parliament.
Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, one of the expelled MPs, said that the withdrawal of the whip stems from ideological differences between the group and the party.
He said that the group is yet to decide which party they will join, but claimed that the Kla Dham party is ready to welcome them.
Agriculture Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat, leader of the Kla Dham party, confirmed today that the party is ready to accept them all.
In September, Thammanat and six MPs loyal to him quit the executive committee of the Palang Pracharath party. Thammanat’s brother, Akkara, was appointed deputy agriculture minister in the Pheu Thai-led government.
