Ex-TRT chiefs eye academic
Vajiravudh College director Chaianan Samudavanija, a staunch critic of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, has been approached to lead a new political party jointly planned by the Thamma Thippatai and Matchima groups, a source said yesterday.
Matchima is led by Somsak Thepsuthin, and Thamma Thippatai is led by Somkid Jatusripitak. Both are key figures from the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party and have joined forces to set up a new political party, expected to be headed by Somkid, who served as deputy premier and finance minister in the Thaksin government. However, after Thai Rak Thai was dissolved, Somkid became one of the 111 party executives deprived of electoral rights for five years. A source from the Matchima group said yesterday that Somsak had attempted to ask "well-known people" to be leader but failed. These include former interior minister Purachai Piumsomboon and former Bank of Thailand governor MR Prodiyathorn Devakula. The source said Somkid had also approached Chaianan, who now sits in the National Legislative Assembly, to become leader of the planned political party. Chaianan agreed to "work with" the politicians but had not made up his mind about lead the new party, the source said. "He told Somkid he was ready to help our group as advisor but he could not say whether he would become party leader or not because he wanted to see the new constitution," the source said.
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