Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra has struck a secret deal with Banharn Silapa-archa to take over as prime minister after the October 15 election, and the Chat Thai leader has already approached Bank of Thailand Governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula to become his deputy and finance minister if his dream of making a comeback as premier comes true, according to highly placed sources in both parties.

A key member of the Thai Rak Thai Party said Thaksin might try to reduce the political pressure on him by forming a coalition government with Banharn's Chat Thai Party. He would then offer Banharn the post of prime minister during the period of political reform expected after the election.

Pridiyathorn, who will retire from the central bank in October next year, is believed to be seriously considering Banharn's offer, although he has not yet made his position clear. His five-year governorship at the central bank has earned him respect both at home and abroad as an independent policy-maker.

"The new government will be focusing largely on political reform and constitutional amendments. The government will stay for only one year to finish the job as part of the social contract. Then the economic situation might worsen from both the domestic and external factors. In particular, the war in the Middle East could push oil prices up further. If the prime minister fails to tackle the economic problems, the society will call on Thaksin to serve as prime minister again," the Thai Rak Thai source said.

This strategy is one of the three options drawn up by the Thaksin camp. Another is for Thaksin to ignore public protests against him and stay on as prime minister following a Thai Rak Thai victory at the polls.

The last option is for Thaksin to step aside and hand over the premiership to Chidchai Vanasatidya, Bhokin Bhalakula or Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, the source said.

Other key members of the Thai Rak Thai, including Somsak Thepsuthin and Pinij Charusombat, have been pushing for Dr Somkid Jatusripitak to succeed Thaksin as prime minister. But Thaksin is against this proposal.

The Thai Rak Thai member said Thaksin would also like to park Thai Rak Thai MPs at Chat Thai in the event the Constitution Court dissolves the party for alleged violation of the election laws.

The Constitution allows 30 days for MPs whose party has been dissolved by the Constitution Court to become members of a new party.

With the highly volatile political situation, Thaksin is keeping his options open and watching developments on a daily basis. He is likely to make a decision on whether to step aside as prime minister or resume the premiership either one week before or after the general election, the source said.

A key member of the Chat Thai Party said that in one possible scenario, Thaksin would agree to form a coalition government with Banharn after the election and offer him the post of deputy prime minister in charge of political reform. Banharn earlier played a role in the political reforms leading to the 1997 Constitution during his premiership in 1995-1996.

The source said Banharn had asked Pridiyathorn to join Chat Thai and serve as deputy prime minister and finance minister. "But we have not yet got an answer from him," the source said.

Banharn first approached Pridiyathorn to take the number one spot in the Chat Thai's party list, but he declined saying he was still needed at the central bank. But the prospect of Pridiyathorn joining the Chat Thai became brighter after Banharn approached him a second time following a dinner meeting with Thaksin late last month.

Samatcha Hoonsara,

Nerisa Nerykhiew

The Nation