The Puea Pandin Party yesterday decided to support the Budget Bill even after its leaders were shuffled out of the Cabinet due to dissident votes at the censure debate last week.
Party chairman Charnchai Chairungrueng, who lost his industry portfolio, led the meeting, attended by about 12 MPs from two factions, Phya Nak and Korat-Surin, both of which were ousted from the Cabinet.
Alongkot said the factions had put aside partisan politics in order to work and serve for the public interest.
With regard to the future of his party and its various factions, he said the two factions ousted from the Cabinet initially planned to join the opposition but changed their stand after another faction, led by Deputy Education Minister Chaiyos Jiramethakorn, decided to team up with the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party.
In light of the move by the Chaiyos faction, Puea Pandin will remain on the fence and not always side with either the coalition nor the opposition, Alongkot said.
"The party will definitely not work with the Pheu Thai Party on the opposition bench because it has given birth to the incumbent coalition," he said.
He said the party and its various factions would continue to support coalition policies deemed just and oppose those deemed unjustified.
He denied the allegation that his party's MPs got paid Bt5 million for each stray vote in the censure. The payments allegedly were wired from abroad, an insinuation that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was the mastermind for the rebellious voting.
Alongkot said the censure votes cast by his party were based on responses from its constituents in the Northeast. It is a fact that Puea Pandin and Bhum Jai Thai claim overlapping strongholds, he said, explaining that Puea Pandin constituents welcomed votes no-confidence against Bhum Jai Thai ministers.
Following the Cabinet reshuffle, two factions outside the coalition bandwagon claim to have 18 MPs.
The Phya Nak faction includes Udon Thongprasert from Ubon Ratchathani, Suchart Tantiwanitchanon from Ubon Ratchathani, Vittaya Buddevong from Mukdahan, Noraphol Tantimontri from Chiang Mai, Nikmukta Waba from Pattani, Ratchanee Pholsue from Roi Et and Alongkot.
The Korat-Surin faction includes four MPs from Nakhon Ratchasima (Ranongruk Suwanchawee, Pholpee Suwanchawee, Anuwat Wisetchindawat and Pranom Phokam); four MPs from Surin (Theerathat Tiewcharoensopha, Kittisak Rungthanakiart, Maliwan Thanyasakulkit and Sathit Thepwongsirirat); and Kongkrit Hongwilai from Prachin Buri.
Two MPs, Kittiwattana Jayan and Suradet Yasawat, claim to be independent but ally with the two factions.
The other two MPs, Yusree Susarow from Pattani and Jittawan Wangsupakitkosol from Nakhon Ratchasima, have not been working under the Puea Pandin banner but have not yet formally departed.