BANGKOK, May 17 (TNA) – Future
Forward Party (FFP)’s secretary- general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul has claimed that unnamed figures have pressured the Election
Commission (EC) to expedite legal action against his party leader, Thanathorn
Juangroongruangkit.
Piyabutr made the allegation one day after the
EC asked the Constitutional Court to review the complaint against Thanathorn
for allegedly violating the charter.
Following media reports suggesting Thanathorn’s ownership of
V-Luck Media Company when he registered for the election, the EC launched an
investigation before deciding on Thursday to forward the case to the
Court. Thanathorn could be disqualified
because the Constitution prohibits election candidate to own or hold shares in
a media company.
Piyabutr said he had received warnings from many sources
that the EC had been pressured to push forward the disqualification case. He warned the EC that it should
indiscriminately press forwards similar cases against other politicians. 
Piyabutr also reaffirmed FFP’s bid to lead a coalition
government, a surprise move announced by Thanathorn on Thursday, saying the FFP
would hold talks with other parties.
FFP, the third largest party with 80 MPs, has made alliance
pledge with the seven-party anti-junta bloc led by Pheu Thai Party. It previously indicated its support for Pheu
Thai’s choice of prime minister candidate.
But Thanathorn said on Thursday he now sought to become prime minister.
Pheu Thai’s Secretary-general Phumtham Vejjayachai said his
party supported Thanathorn as long as both parties share the same goal which
was to stop the military junta.
Offering no clear explanation whether the Pheu-Thai-led bloc
has been abolished, Phumtham said Thanathorn had “unofficially” consulted
leaders of other parties before announcing his bid.
In challenging the pro-junta Palang Pracharath Party’s
(PPRP) bid to form a coalition government and nominate Prayut Chan-o-cha as a
civilian prime minister, Thanathorn said the FFP would lead a coalition
government and he was ready to be prime minister to stop the junta.(TNA)
