Bidding wars, dark influences and Thaksin

In an earlier post we commented on the current bidding wars for MPs, mostly by dark influences.

The Thai Enquirer Facebook page has a detailed account of recent events.

First, it mentions Anudith Nakornthap and Karun Hosakul, two former Bangkok MPs from the Thai Sang Thai Party who have confirmed they will resign to join the coalition Kla Tham [Party].”

Both men have been close to Pheu Thai and Thaksin Shinawatra in the past. Anudith was a minister under Yingluck Shinawatra and was notorious for his rabid approach to censorship.

Party leader Narumon Pinyosinwat praised the defectors, saying the party “welcomes current and former MPs, prospective candidates, and members from the two former MPs’ teams.”

The party’s real leader is convicted heroin smuggler and godfather figure  Thammanat Prompao. He claims that he can recruit (buy/bribe) “around 30 more MPs…. Kla Tham currently holds 26 seats, including 20 former Palang Pracharath (PPRP) MPs, four ex-leaders of small parties, one MP from Khon Kaen who defected from Bhumjaithai, and one from Nakhon Si Thammarat elected in a recent by-election.”

Of course, Palang Pracharath is one of the former junta parties, now a rump party led by the senile general Prawit Wongsuwan.

The white powder godfather has moved between various sides in recent years, including Puea Thai, and appears to retain links to Thaksin. Remarkably he is reported to have “confirmed [that] discussions with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra took place before bringing in Anudit and Karun, emphasizing there were no conflicts despite diverging paths. Both Anudit and Karun were previously with Thai Rak Thai, founded by Thaksin and the predecessor of the current ruling Pheu Thai Party, and served as MPs during Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration…”.

Thammanat also “dismissed claims that the party is recruiting MPs to take the Interior Minister seat from the Bhumjaithai Party, the current second-largest party in the coalition with 69 MPs.” He declared that Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s coalition “government’s term completion depends on ongoing negotiations but expects it to last its full term, with parties organizing ahead of the next election.”

Yet it would appear that Thaksin is desperate to rid the coalition of Anutin and the royalist’s favorite Bhum Jai Thai Party. So willing, that he is prepared to link up with all manner of dubious characters, gangsters and godfathers, betting that they can keep the palace happy enough.