Thaksin denies Yaowapa to be groomed to be Yingluck's substitute

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra phoned in during Tuesday's meeting of MPs from the ruling Pheu Thai Party to offer his advice and make his viewpoints on issues ranging from peace talks in the deep South and constitutional amendment to rice-pledging policy and the Bt2.2-trillion loans for infrastructure mega-projects.

Thaksin rejected speculation that his sister Yaowapa Wongsawat, who is to contest the Chiang Mai by-election next month, would become a "substitute" prime minister.

He said Yaowapa, now a non-MP who is a powerful figure in the ruling party, would work more closely with the party MPs in Parliament.

Yaowapa completed a five-year political ban at the end of May.

The Nation