Sutasn says he's ready to tell party goodbye

Senior Democrat figure Sutasn Ngenmune yesterday dropped another political bombshell, saying he would be ready to quit the party if a survey were to find that the popularity of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and ex-premier Chuan Leekpai was sagging in the Northeast.

In charge of the Democrats' northeastern campaigning, Sutasn continued to air his disappointment over the party's political campaign in the region.

Sutasn called on the party to conduct a survey to ascertain its popularity in the Northeast and said he would quit if Chuan and/or Abhisit failed to impress.

He denied that his announcement was an attempt to clash with Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.

Sutasn, a former Democrat Party leader who is regarded as the Isaan commander of the party, called yesterday's press conference after meeting with the party's 19 northeastern provincial branch chiefs.

He confirmed his earlier statement that he would resign from the party if the Democrats were to use the Bhum Jai Thai Party to steer their political campaign in the Northeast. However, he denied reports that he would join another party, saying he would quit politics if he left the Democrats.

He insisted that his having a meal with former People Power Party leader Somchai Wongsawat ahead of the by-election in Si Sa Ket had no political implications. His family and Somchai's have close ties, he said, but they did not discuss politics. He said that even if the Pheu Thai Party invited him to join the party, he would not do so.

Sutasn said he was willing to welcome Abhisit during his visit to the Northeast, but he had not been contacted by either Suthep or the premier. Only Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan has called to offer him moral support, he added.

Suthep slammed Sutasn for threatening to resign and quit politics if the Democrat Party asked Bhum Jai Thai to campaign for the party in the Northeast.

He said he had not heard exactly what Sutasn had said, but the Democrats had never allowed any party to act as its political agent. "Sutasn is an adult. He should learn to grasp things correctly. He should not need to have anyone warn him,'' he said.

Abhisit, meanwhile, said it was unnecessary to summon Sutasn to clear up any misunderstanding, because he had already talked to many Democrat Party MPs from the northeastern provinces and found that there was no real issue.

He said Sutasn had been on the end of a leading question posed by a reporter.

The PM insisted he would start his Isaan tour in Buri Ram next Saturday, as scheduled.

Chuan said he was confident Sutasn would not quit, as he had been with the party for a long time.