PPP infighting over two anti-coup campaigners

Party leader Samak Sundaravej said on Thursday that he already explained his decision to patch up differences with the dissident candidates.

"I want the election outcome as proof that the people have sided with the party and the ousted government in opposing the coup," he said.

He said he was to emphsise a message about his leadership reflecting on that of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"If the people approve of what Thaksin did, then they will vote for me, a replacement," he said.

He said he successfully resolved the rift within his party. Should party dissidents continue to attack his decision, they might act as agents of rivals to undermine the party, he added.

On Wednesday the party included two anticoup campaigners, Jatuporn Phromphan and Minit Chitchanklap, among its 10 partylist candidates via proportionate vote in  Zone 6.

The party's 36 candidates to compete for Bangkok seats via direct vote protested such move on grounds that the two were unpopular. The candidates are under the Sudarat Keyuraphan faction and have threathened to defect and run under another party banner.

The faction accused party deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat and adviser Newin Chidchob of meddling with the list of candidates without Sudarat's consent.

The Nation