Kla Tham Party leader Thamanat Prompow has been seen wearing a Casio watch engraved with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s name, prompting speculation that his party may leave the opposition and join the coalition government.
The speculation was given some impetus by Phai Lik, a Kla Tham MP, who posted a brief message on social media saying the watch is not new. He wrote that, in short, it had been “taken off the owner’s wrist”, implying that it had been passed on to Thamanat after being worn by Anutin.
The Casio watch bears the name “Anutin Charnvirakul” engraved in both Thai and English on the back.
According to Thai PBS, Thamanat received the watch on August 13 and was first seen wearing it publicly on August 24th, while visiting flood-hit areas in Nan province.
The watch is one of a quantity of Casio watches purchased and engraved by Anutin for people who work closely with him. Those reported to have received similar watches include Bhumjaithai Party ministers and senior Interior Ministry officials.
Anutin is known to collect watches, including Casio models. During visits to local markets and shops while campaigning, he would often buy models he liked and later had them engraved.
The watch now worn by Thamanat was purchased by Anutin on April 4, while he was inspecting product prices at a shopping centre in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district.
The watches cost about 1,900 baht each, according to reports.
