Bhumjaithai, People’s Party come to end of the road?

Their association was short-lived, and the prospect of them joining forces again now looks far-fetched. And judging from their leaders’ most recent strong words, Bhumjaithai and the People’s parties -- which are projected to dominate the upcoming general election—appear to have already burned their bridges.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ruled out the possibility of his Bhumjaithai Party shaking hands with the People’s Party in forming a coalition if the latter doesn’t abandon its attempts to have the lese majeste law, better known as Article 112 of the Criminal Code, amended.

Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, immediately hit back, saying that the two parties will be on a collision course in the election.

“The upcoming election will be a contest between the People’s Party and Bhumjaithai to form a government,” declared Natthaphong.

The animosity between the two parties is a drastic departure from their brief political collaboration just three months ago. Back then, the People’s Party lent its legislative support that enabled Anutin to become prime minister in return for Bhumjaithai’s support for the constitutional amendment drive.

But the deal turned sour, prompting the People’s Party to threaten minority Anutin government with a no-confidence motion. Anutin, however, chose to pre-empt the move by having the House dissolved in mid-December.

There have been questions whether the two parties can still continue to work together after the election despite the fallout. The People’s Party made a major surprise by emerging on top in the last general election and is expected to once again be a dominant force in the upcoming election.

Bhumjaithai Party, meanwhile, is likely to enjoy the advantages of incumbency, buoyed by Anutin’s handling of the border conflict with Cambodia, and play a key role in the poll.

Political observers believe that numerically, the two parties together with one or two more small ones will command enough legislative support to form a coalition government.

But the latest war of words between the two parties makes it very unlikely that they will form an alliance.

During a TV debate early this week, Natthaphong said his People’s Party will not again vote for Anutin to become prime minister.

Anutin responded by reiterating his party’s stand not to form a coalition government with any political party that supports amending Article 112 which penalizes people found guilty of offending the monarchy.

“I watched the TV debate and saw that the leader of the People’s Party was the only one who insisted on amending Article 112,” Anutin said.

“If they are still obsessed with this matter, Bhumjaithai will definitely not join hands with them,” added Anutin, who is known as a staunch royalist.

Natthaphong dismissed Anutin’s remarks and declared that his People’s Party aims to win enough seats in the upcoming election to be the core of the next coalition government.

Despite winning the most seats in the last election in 2023, the People’s Party was prevented from forming a government after its then leader Pita Limjaroenrat failed to secure enough parliamentary votes to become prime minister.

“This upcoming election is the last chance to bring Thailand out of the all the crises engulfing the country,” said Natthaphong.