A group of 13 MPs in the South is the latest to demand a seat in Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha's cabinet, after another group of 19 MPs from the Northeast earlier threatened to defect to the opposition if their demand is turned down.
Trang MP Nipan Sirithorn said the group had told key members of the coalition-leading Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) of their demand.
"We never impose any pressure. The reason that people in the South voted for us is that they wanted changes. Unless MPs from the South sit in the administrative branch, we will lose supporters [to other parties in the South] as now both Bhumjaithai and Democrats have seats in the cabinet," he said.
He said the so-called Dam Kwan Group, which is named after the "axe handle" that the southern provinces resemble on a map, will today open an office near Phichai intersection in Bangkok. The members will meet to discuss their stance in the afternoon.
A source, who asked not to be named, said the group had proposed Suchart Chanchotikul, a former member of the National Reform Council who was the party's head for the March 24 elections in the South for a ministerial position.
On Saturday, a group of MPs led by Ekkarat Changlao, former manager of the Khon Kaen teachers' savings cooperative said considering the number of votes and MP seats they won, the group deserved ministerial or other administrative seats. Their bases in Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani, where they won 1.3 million votes, resulted in 19 MPs seats for the coalition, the group said.
Mr Ekkarat said it should get at least two positions with administrative powers. "MPs alone do not have sufficient influence over the budget to move forward the development of the Northeast," he said.
