Pracharaj party in turmoil after Prachai resigns

Prachai and a group of former senators including Karun Saingam, Intarat Yodbangtoei held a press conference at Pracharaj party headquarters on Friday..

Prachai said his ideology "contradicted" the policies of party leader Snoh Thienthong. He said he may join another party, adding that he would announce a decision on his political future on Monday - but admitted that he may team up with the Matchima Thippatai party.

Meanwhile, the Matchima group, which only merged with Pracharaj party last month, will hold a meeting at the residence of Somsak Thepsuthin, the former leader of Matchima group to announce their departure from the Pracharaj Party.

It is reported that Prachai and Korn Dabbaransi will attend the meeting.  

Pracharaj party secretarygeneral, Anongwan Thepsuthin said she was still undecided and will call on her members to talk about her political future today.

However, she said the resignation of Prachai might be the result of  an interview Snoh gave on Thursday, when he said that if Prachai is so good at economics, it would not be difficult for him to form his own party.

Anongwan and about 50 members came from Matchima group before merging with Pracharaj.

Snoh refused to comment on Prachai's resignation, but said he would go on working as Pracharaj Party leader and would not talk about any person who has left the party.

"I always say the Pracharaj Party will select good people to work with us and help solve the country's problems," the Pracharaj leader said.  

There was a rumour that the Chat Thai party has attempted to approach Snoh to join with them, but Snoh was tightlipped on the subject.

Sophon Phetsawang, the deputy party leader, said if Anongwan quit from Pracharaj  all the members from Matchima will quit too.

"If we decide to quit we will move to the Matchima Thippatai party," he said, adding that Prachai would be welcome if he want to join.

Thippatai said that Prachai could lead the party because his qualifications "were outstanding." Meanwhile, a source from Pracharaj said most members had wanted Prachai to lead the party because Snoh's image could not lead the party to victory. Moreover, Snoh had previously disagreed with policies that members proposed and he also made the decision to select the candidates by himself.

Snoh's close aide said he was upset with Prachai because he had published new policies for the party without discussing them with Snoh.

"All policies should be forwarded to academics before being presented to the people, but Prachai just went ahead and published them via the print media," the source said.