Neck and neck battle

By Aekarach Sattaburuth, Manop Thip-Osod and Pradi

The Democrat Party and defectors from the government coalition have gained a majority in the House and will form a government with Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister, the party claimed on Saturday.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, left, greets former Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa, right, seeking his support in helping form a coalition government. Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, second from right, and chief adviser to the dissolved Chart Thai party Sanan Kachornprasart, centre, were also present. APICHART JINAKUL

Key Puea Thai members huddled in a crisis meeting, hatching a plot to bring defecting MPs back into their camp.

Under the plan, Puea Thai MPs will team up in twos. They will be instructed by a core member and each pair tasked with convincing one defecting MP to return to the fold, a party source said.

Puea Thai supporters in defecting MPsโ€� constituencies will also put pressure on them to change their minds.

Surapong Towijakchaikul, a Puea Thai MP for Chiang Mai, said the meeting also mentioned the figure of two billion baht โ€” money to be spent convincing the defectors to return and support the party in forming a government.

Puea Thai would promise other parties that no Puea Thai member would stand against their candidates in the general election. It would even financially support its partnersโ€� canvassing campaigns, he added.

If this final attempt to form a new government fails, the core members would probably suggest that acting Prime Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul dissolve the House and call a snap poll.

The main target of the party is 37 members in the faction controlled by Newin Chidchob, who has decided to back the Democrat party.

Nakhon Ratchasima MP Bunjong Wongtrairat, a member of the Newin camp, confirmed faction members were coming under pressure from MPs in Puea Thai. Tactics included offering cash rewards for switching sides, again, and spreading rumours against them in their constituencies.

Puea Thaiโ€�s claims the majority of MPs were supporting its push to form a new government were brushed aside by Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and by secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who said the number of MPs committed to backing Mr Abhisit as new prime minister remained at 260.

But only 240 MPs signed their names to the letter submitted to House Speaker Chai Chidchob Monday seeking an extraordinary session for the election of a new prime minister.

Mr Chai, a Buri Ram politician and father of Mr Newin, said he expected the House would meet in three days. After the election of a new prime minister he would resign as speaker.

Mr Chai and the members of the Friends of Newin faction have not decided which party to join. MPs without a party can vote for a new prime minister, but must find a new party within 60 days of their old party being dissolved.

On Monday, Mr Suthep and Mr Abhisit led other members to call on Banharn Silpa-archa, former leader of the dissolved Chart Thai party and now de facto leader of Chart Thai Pattana, at his residence. They later met former Matchimathipataya leader Anongwan Thepsuthin and her husband Somsak, a banned executive of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party, at their house.

Mr Banharn, who has begun a fiveyear ban from politics, was invited to play a leading role in forming a Democrat-led coalition government, Mr Suthep said.

On Tuesday the two Democrats will meet the Newin group and members of Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, a Democrat source said. The Democrats wanted to pay their respects to other parties and factions who decided to move from Puea Thai, to keep them on their side, the source added.

With the Democrats confident of being able to form a new administration, Pracharaj leader Sanoh Thienthong proposed the setting up of a national government โ€” calling on all parties to set aside their differences and help solve the countryโ€�s problems.

Pracharaj is not in the Democrat-led alliance, but some Democrat members have been optimistic it could join them.