Wang Nam Yen on verge of extinction
The once influential Wang Nam Yen faction of the Thai Rak Thai Party is fast becoming irrelevant as 20 of its members scramble to join new factions.
Deputy Thai Rak Thai leader Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn met 30 party MPs yesterday to discuss the situation. Sources said members of Wang Nam Yen had attended the meeting though their identities and numbers remained unclear. The same sources said 20 MPs from the faction, led by Snoh Thienthong, might soon defect. At the height of his power in 2001 Snoh had 50 MPs under his wing. Even Pongsak himself was once a member. Early this year Snoh broke with party leader Thaksin Shinawatra and resigned from the party. Snoh had earlier accused Thaksin of poaching his MPs. Other factions that former Wang Nam Yen politicians may switch to are those under Suriya Juengrungruangkij, General Thammarak Issarangkul na Ayutthaya and Suchart Tancharoen, another deputy TRT leader.
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