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Published on October 6, 2007

Prachai and a group of former senators, including Karun Sai-ngam and Intarat Yodbangtoei, held a press conference at the party's headquarters yesterday.

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

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

Prachai and Korn Dabbaransi are expected to attend the meeting.

Pracharaj secretary-general Anongwan Thepsuthin said yesterday that she was still undecided and would call on her members to talk about her political future today.

However, she said Prachai's resignation might have been caused by Snoh's remark on Thursday that if Prachai is so good at economics, it would not be difficult for him to form his own party. Snoh appeared upset following new reports that Prachai was aiming to take the leader's seat from him.

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

Snoh yesterday refused to comment on Prachai's resignation, but said he would go on working as Pracharaj 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," he said.

There was a rumour that the Chat Thai Party had attempted to persuade Snoh to join with them, but Snoh was tight-lipped on the subject.

Sophon Phetsawang, the deputy party leader, said if Anongwan were to leave Pracharaj, all the members from Matchima would quit too.

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

He said Prachai could lead the party because his qualifications "were outstanding".

Meanwhile, a Pracharaj source said most members had wanted Prachai to lead the party because Snoh's image could not lead it to victory. Moreover, Snoh had previously disagreed with policies that members proposed and had made the decision to select 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.

The Nation