Could be time to fly the nest

C allsfor Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan to part ways with the Pheu Thai Party and form a party of her own are growing among her supporters after she became the target of opposition from those who want to thwart her bid to become the party’s new leader, a source has said.

Her supporters reason that Khunying Sudarat should no longer waste time and effort remaining with Pheu Thai.

Even though the party is likely to win many House seats in the next general election, it will become increasingly difficult for her to receive cooperation from her political rivals within Pheu Thai if she stays with the party, according to the source.

“Khunying Sudarat should leave and set up a party of her own,” the source said.

“She will likely win at least 20-30 seats, which will be enough to strike a political bargain.”

This will be more dignified than continuing to stick with the Pheu Thai Party where there are many who refuse to accept her despite blessings from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is widely believed to be the party’s de facto leader, as well as from his ex-wife Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, the source added.

Khunying Sudarat recently found herself defied by Patchara Naripthaphan, the son of another Pheu Thai heavyweight Pichai Naripthaphan, the former energy minister who is also known to be close to Thaksin.

Unfazed by Khunying Sudarat’s seniority, Mr Patchara took issue with her remarks about the party and insisted that Pheu Thai is not part of the political problem.

He was apparently referring to a recent media interview in which Khunying Sudarat expressed her determination to pull the party out of the political conflict and present her blueprint to steer the country forward.

In Mr Patchara’s opinion, Pheu Thai is not the problem, but more a victim of political circumstances.

He likened the party to a house being robbed and said the party could overcome adversity if its members worked together and kept an open mind to each others’ ideas.

“I support party members in expressing their opinions. But the problem is that some people are obsessed with their status and use religious beliefs for personal gain. This is demoralising people,” he said, apparently taking a swipe at Khunying Sudarat.

Mr Patchara’s move seems “contrived”, in part because his father is also a candidate for the party leadership, the source said.

It is reported that the former minister is trying to build up support within the party ranks.

This is not to mention Chalerm Ubumrung, the former labour minister and one of Pheu Thai’s most prominent members, who is also known to have no love lost with Khunying Sudarat, the source said.

Khunying Sudarat’s supporters believe it will not be to her benefit to remain in the party given that Thaksin Shinawatra is too far away to control the ructions between Khunying Sudarat and those factions which are attempting to block her ascent to the leadership, the source said.