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Published on October 20, 2007

The meeting, held at Snoh's house, was to elect a new executive board after key financial backer Prachai Leophairatana left following a row with Snoh over party management.

Prachai's departure also caused Somsak Thepsuthin's faction to follow Prachai to Matchima Thippatai.

Snoh was elected as party leader again yesterday while Korn Dabbaransi was picked as deputy leader.

Chienchuang Kalayanamitr, a cousin of outspoken Defence Ministry deputy permanent secretary Saprang, was a surprise choice as new party secretary-general.

Snoh said while Chienchuang was a relative of Saprang, his move to join the party did not mean the former deputy Army chief would follow suit. He noted that Saprang had said he would stay out of politics.

He said Chienchuang had ability and knowledge because he had worked in the political arena for a long time.

When asked about the possibility of Saprang and Admiral Bannawit Kengrien becoming Pracharaj members, Snoh said it depended on whether the pair could work with and have the same ideology as the party.

Snoh could not estimate how many seats his party would win because MP candidates were being wooed with financial offers. Only three seats in his stronghold of Sa Kaew are certain, he said.

The Nation