The former rebel MP was waiting as Thaksin arrived at Thai Rak Thai Party headquarters. He waied the PM and begged forgiveness.

"Please field me to run in the election," Nirand pleaded in front of reporters invited to the scene.

Thaksin assured Nirand they could forget the past and make a fresh start, then entered the lift.

Nirand told reporters he wanted to apologise for criticising the party. He believed Thaksin would field him in the election because his name remained on the list of candidates for the Northeast.

"If I am unable to run for the election it would end my political career," he said. Other "rebels" including Payap Pankate, plan to run as TRT candidates.

Nirand said he had yet to meet with faction leader Snoh Thienthong because he had many issues to deal with.

In Thaksin's second term in office, Wang Nam Yen - TRT's second biggest faction - caused trouble for the PM. Six faction members, lead by former MP Snoh resigned last week from the party.

Nirand was elected in Roi Et province.

A Thai Rak Thai source said Defence Minister General Thamarak Isarangura, chairman for the Northeast, had orchestrated the meeting between Nirand and Thaksin.

The source said 30 Wang Nam Yen faction members would run under the Thai Rak Thai banner next month, but Nirand had been selected to apologise in public.

A source in the Wang Nam Yen faction said Thamarak had led the group of former rebels to meet the PM. Thaksin told them they had to resign from the faction.

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation