Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul said late Wednesday night that he got hiccups when he found out that one of the party’s MPs, Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, representing Si Sa Ket province, abstained from voting in the prime minister’s election in breach of the party’s resolution.
Mr. Siripong was seen weeping and raising his hands in a “wai” gesture after he cast his abstention and left the TOT auditorium immediately after the joint sitting of the House and the Senate.
When approached by reporters asking about Siripong’s abstention, Anutin said he didn’t expect this and thought the Si Sa Ket MP might have his own reasons, adding that he would talk with him later.
However, he described Siripong’s defiance as “the beauty of a democratic system”, saying that MPs have the right to vote as they wish.
Anutin said the party had not discussed, with the Palang Pracharat party, about its quota of cabinet portfolios in the coalition government and hoped Siripong’s abstention vote would not affect its cabinet seats.
Siripong was a successful real estate developer before entering politics by first joining the now disbanded Chart Thai party. He later quit the party to join Bhumjaithai.
