Rumbling conflict within the Palang Pracharat party appears to be getting louder as the powerful Sam Mitr faction demands that its leader, Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, be reinstated as energy minister to avoid the group reconsidering its position in the coalition government.
The group, which reportedly controls about 30 MPs in Palang Pracharat, the core party of the government coalition, has also demanded that Mr. Anucha Nakasai be given back the post of deputy finance minister, a post promised to him in early June but withdrawn by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in his latest cabinet changes.
In a statement issued today, the Sam Mitr group claimed that Mr. Suriya, Mr. Anucha and Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, who was expected to be justice minister, were instrumental in the formation of the Palang Pracharat party and in leading the party in the March 24th general election, as well as supporting General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s quest for the post-election premiership.
With his experience, the group claim that Mr. Suriya is suitable to be transport minister while Mr. Somsak is qualified to be agriculture minister.
Mr. Suriya, however, will become industry minister and Mr. Anucha has been dropped from the cabinet lineup, according to the Sam Mitr group, adding that it has decided to issue a statement to demand the reinstatement of Mr. Suriya as energy minister and Mr. Anucha as the deputy finance minister.
