Somkid Jatusripitak, a former deputy leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party, yesterday denied he would accept the position of leader of any new party formed by ex-MPs.

"Reports have said some political parties want me to be their leader. This is not my style,'' he said.

Somkid said that if he wanted to return to politics, he would rather establish a party of his own as he does not need anyone to set one up for him.

Somkid also insisted he wanted to take a rest, take care of his children and return to his former career as a university lecturer.

He was speaking at Thammasat University's 72nd anniversary dinner at the Plaza Athenee Hotel.

A source from the Wang Nam Yom group, which is led by Somsak Thepsuthin, said in the afternoon that Somkid would announce his decision to lead a new party at the dinner.

The source said Somkid sympathised with Somsak, who was trying to gather as many former MPs to join his new party as possible. Some of the 150 former Thai Rak Thai MPs were expected to join the new party.

Earlier, the source Wang Nam Yom group claimed that Somkid had made his decision to announce his political future after he had dinner with Somsak and some former Thai Rak Thai executives at a restaurant in Bangkok's Phloenchit area on Tuesday night.

The group discussed a rumour that Virabongsa Ramangkura, a former finance minister, would lead the new party, which the group would set up to run in the next election. They believe a rival party was trying to confuse the group's members about who would head the new party.

"The truth is Somkid had accepted the leader's post for a certain period of time and offered land he owns near Thon Buri Bridge for the new party's office. But we asked him to keep quiet in order to avoid becoming a target," the source had said.

The rumour worried them, so at the dinner table they agreed to forestall speculation and confusion by letting Somkid introduce himself as the leader of their new party.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation