PM plays down row with Porntiva, meets with Banharn

"I have no plan to go soon," he told reporters when asked if his government would be able to carry on till the Asean summit in October.

A row yesterday over the plan by Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai, from the Bhum Jai Thai Party, to sell corn from the government stockpile caused talk of rifts.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party then claimed the government would have a short life as the PM planned to dissolve parliament soon.

But Abhisit said: "Individuals involved in the row share the same goal of doing their best to enable the coalition government to advance forward to solve the country's problems."

Abhisit said he did not expect Porntiva to hold grudges against him and other Cabinet members for temporarily assuming control of the stockpile.

The plan to sell the Bt2 billion stockpile was hatched by the previous administration but the prime minister said his government wanted to review the sale.

Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu was tasked to supervise the sale in order to ensure transparency and pre-empt any irregularities, he said.

The Bhum Jai Thai Party had reaffirmed its loyalty to the coalition, party spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said.

Porntiva, appointed under the party's quota, had not clashed with the prime minister and it was normal for differing views to circulate during a policy debate by Cabinet members, Supachai said.

He said the Cabinet decided to assign Korbsak for the task because, as deputy PM he had the mandate to iron out relevant issues that Commerce Ministry officials failed to clarify.

"I don't see the row as a rift within the coalition but a normal debate to thrash out differing ideas," Supachai said.

He said Porntiva did not have any bad feelings toward Abhisit because the two attended a lunch together after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

"Bhum Jai Thai will not take up a fight with the coalition alliance," he said.

Porntiva said the sale of the corn stockpile would proceed under Korbsak's supervision. She was not disheartened by the Cabinet decision to check on the sale. She also refused to confirm or deny the spat she had with the PM.

"This is not the time to talk about this," she said.

After the prime minister commented about the row with Porntiva, he said he wanted a break and asked reporters not to follow his motorcade.

Shortly after, he went to Baan Phitsanulok, his official residence, to attend a closed door meeting with barred Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa.

Others seen at the meeting included Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Abhisit's secretary general Niphon Prompan and Banharn's deputy Somsak Prissanananthakul.

Suthep said the meeting was mostly about economic matters, nothing about the rift within the coalition.

"We want to hear from outsiders whom support the government's stimulus package," he said.

No other coalition leaders were aware of the hastily-arranged talks.

Government House sources said Abhisit and Banharn might have discussed the amnesty for political offences, which is seen as a contentious issue in the reconciliation process.

Banharn backs the Chart Thai Pattana Party and has reportedly proposed amnesty details that differ from other coalition partners.

The talks might also touch on the government's push to raise the bar on public debt in order to overcome the economic downturn, sources said.