Rumours fly that Chavalit has eye on top TRT job
Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is reviewing his options before deciding whether to come out of retirement to lead the Thai Rak Thai Party, his close aide Sornchai Montriwat said yesterday.
"Chavalit hasn't closed any doors on the future," Sornchai said, referring to reports that Thai Rak Thai acting leader Chaturon Chaisang had offered to step aside for Chavalit. He said a clique of former MPs who had belonged to Chavalit's New Aspiration Party before its merger with Thai Rak Thai had pleaded with Chavalit to save the once-mighty party from being dismantled. Chavalit may finalise his decision after assessing the new constitution, Sornchai said. Sources in Thai Rak Thai said many factions would probably push for political veteran Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan to take the party's helm. These factions, comprising up to 200 members, are unsatisfied with Chaturon's leadership and remain loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinwatra, the source said. They are critical of Chaturon for distancing himself and the party from Thaksin and do not believe that Chavalit can save the deposed leader from prosecution, the source added. "Chaturon appears to be successfully ingratiating himself in the eyes of the coup leaders at the expense of Thaksin's reputation, and if he succeeds in installing Chavalit at the party's helm, the party may be in peril," another source said. Chavalit is known to harbour animosity against the coup leaders, he said. He added that Thaksin had endorsed a plan to dethrone Chaturon at the annual party convention next year, although party members remained split on his successor. The coup leaders still oppose Sudarat's leadership for fear she may lead an anti-coup movement, he said. Reacting to the possibility of Chavalit coming out of retirement, Democrat Party deputy leader Trairong Suwankhiri said the former prime minister was too old and out of touch to stage a comeback. "At 75, Chavalit should stop playing politics: he is better off pulling strings behind the scenes than being a puppet," Trairong said. On Friday Chavalit cancelled his appointments in order to play host to Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, but Sonthi did not show up, designating an aide to convey his New Year's greetings. An aide said Chavalit felt snubbed by Sonthi and had retaliated by ordered his staff to dig up dirt on Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.
|
