BANGKOK — Lawmakers and local political heavyweights from multiple parties are defecting to Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul positions his “blue” political camp for an election widely expected early next year.
On Sunday, November 23, Varawut Silpa-archa, leader of the Chartthaipattana Party, arrived at Bhumjaithai headquarters with several key party members and sitting MPs to formally announce their move. The group included party director Nikorn Chamnong, along with MPs Anurak Jureemart of Roi Et, Sema-gun Thiantham of Suphan Buri, Panuwat Sasomsub of Nakhon Pathom and Supachok Khajisupakorn, also from Nakhon Pathom.
They were joined by prominent provincial political dynasties. From Chonburi, former Pattaya mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem and his brother, Vitthaya, declared their intention to shift to Bhumjaithai. In Phetchaburi, provincial administrative chief Chaiya Angkinan, MP Thiwalrat Angkinan, and MP Ruak Yoodee — who defected from the United Thai Nation Party — also announced they would join Anutin’s camp.
Rayong provincial chief Piya Pitutecha, brother of Democrat Party deputy leader Satit Pitutecha and chair of the Democrats’ candidate selection panel, attended the gathering as well.
Two high-profile Pheu Thai lawmakers — Sudarat Pitakphonpanlop of Ubon Ratchathani and Sarassanan Annanopphorn of Khon Kaen — appeared at the event, where Anutin personally introduced them to reporters as new members of Bhumjaithai.
Anutin told reporters the party is preparing for an election “early next year,” and that he had assigned Labor Minister Suchart Chomklin to oversee candidate selection.
Asked whether the influx of factions could undermine party unity, Anutin dismissed the concern. “There are no factions here. There is only one group — mine,” he said. “Everyone calls me ‘phi’ (big brother).”
Pressed on whether he aims to return as prime minister after the election, Anutin replied that his “ultimate dream” is simply for voters to place greater trust in the party. He declined to comment on whether Bhumjaithai might form a government with the People’s Party.
Bhumjaithai’s push to consolidate power comes after former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from office in August by the Constitutional Court, following the release of a leaked private conversation with Cambodia’s Senate president Hun Sen. Though the content centered on avoiding tensions between the two countries, the ruling opened space for Bhumjaithai to gain dominance.
The People’s Party later declared it would back Anutin as prime minister on the condition he dissolve Parliament within four months and amend the constitution.
Pheu Thai points to issues where criticism has been muted, including Thailand’s rare-earth MOU with the United States, investigations into alleged Senate vote-fixing, the stalled Khao Kradong land dispute in Buriram, and what it calls overly nationalistic handling of tensions with Cambodia — a stance that coincided with the U.S. Trade Representative’s decision last week to pause negotiations under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.
The “Red Party” has also accused the “Blue Party” of consolidating power across state institutions, pointing to alleged influence over the Senate, broad transfers of civil servants before the election, and an aggressive drive to pull MPs from competing parties.
Meanwhile, Anutin has instructed coalition parties to stand by for a potential signal on December 12 that he may use his authority as Prime Minister to dissolve parliament.
Anutin said he will propose holding a referendum on the draft constitutional amendment to the Cabinet meeting, paving the way for an extraordinary parliamentary session on December 10-11 to amend the constitution.
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