A source from the party said it may decide to ask for the resignation of Jumpita Chantharakhajorn, who is still recovering from the road accident.

Jumpita has not yet reported to work after winning her riding in the election earlier this year due to the accident and her injuries, and has so far not attended any meetings of the House.

The source said the party may field her husband, Pharatthachote Chantharakhajorn, in the subsequent by-election.

Jumpita won the election with 34,164 votes, beating Democrat Party candidate Surachai Anudthato with 18,970 votes, and Phalang Pracharat candidate Rawan Netrphokaew with 18,741 vote. Former Nakhon Pathom MP Padomechai Sasomsup, who ran for Chart Thai Pattana, received only 12,279 votes.

Prawit spoke to reporters before chairing a meeting of the National Environment Board at Government House.

When asked about measures to make sure MPs would attend House meetings to prevent defeat of the opposition in House votes, Prawit said he had not yet taken responsibility as the chair of the party’s strategic committee. He said he would start working in the party’s post next Tuesday (August 20).

He said he needs to study in detail the issue of double defeats of the coalition during House votes.

When the House recently deliberated and voted on each article of the meeting regulations for the second reading, the coalition vote was twice beaten by the opposition. In the first tally, it lost by one vote, while it was defeated by 11 votes for the second vote.

When Prawit was asked whether he would prevent Phalang Pracharat MPs from making provincial trips on House meeting days, he replied that he had not yet taken up the responsibilities of the chief strategist.

Prawit nodded to reporters when asked whether the strategic committee included Anucha Nakasai, Parina Kraikupti and Wathanya Wongopasi as members.

Prawit is seen as the government’s manager and political observers see his appointment to the party’s chief strategist position as a measure to control Phalang Pracharat MPs and keep them in line.

Suthin Klungsaeng, chief opposition whip and Pheu Thai MP, said the opposition would invoke Article 152 of the constitution to submit a motion this week to seek the debate against Prayut.

Article 152 states: “Members of the House of Representatives comprising not less than one-tenth of the total number of the existing Members of the House of Representatives have the right to submit a motion for a general debate to enquire about facts or recommend issues without a resolution to be passed.”

Suthin said Prayut could not avoid answering the opposition’s questions when a debate is held under the provision of Article 152.

Prayut was accused by the opposition Future Forward Party of failing to state during the oath-taking rite that he and his Cabinet would protect the charter and comply with its provisions. The opposition said such a failure was tantamount to Prayut’s holding of the PM office being technically annulled.

On Wednesday, Future Forward MPs submitted an interpolation for Prayut to answer questions about the controversy but the prime minister led his Cabinet members in undertaking voluntary activities at the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand instead. Prayut said he did not have to answer the question as the issue was being investigated by the Office of Ombudsmen.

“I am confident that when the motion is submitted under Article 152, Prayut cannot cite any mission to avoid the debate,” Sutin said.

“If he avoids the debate, it will be tantamount to an intention to avoid complying with the charter.”

Sutin said although Article 152 does not spell out penalties for violators, action could be taken against Prayut for violating political ethics if he avoids the debate intentionally.

Sutin said once the motion is submitted to the House, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai must put it on House agenda on the appropriate order of debate.

Sutin said although the House has not finished drafting meeting regulations, the motion can be submitted in advance to wait for the regulations to be passed.

Article 152 allows such a general debate without voting on resolution at the end to be held once a year. Asked whether the opposition was concerned that no debate could be held on an issue that affects the people should it cite Article 152 to hold the debate on the oath wording, Sutin said the opposition believes the debate on the issue would be worthwhile.

Prayut said his absence from the afternoon House meeting to answer the motion would not be out of a lack of respect for Parliament.

“But the issue has entered its due process. The issue is now in the process of the ombudsmen. It will have its own legal procedures that the government must comply with,” Prayut said.

Future Forward Party has submitted a motion demanding the prime minister clarify the issue. The motion was scheduled to be taken up by the House of Representatives on the afternoon of August 14.

Future Forward has accused Prayut of violating the constitution by failing to fully state the oath when he and his Cabinet did not commit to protecting and complying with the provisions of the charter. Last week, Prayut issued an apology to his Cabinet for causing the controversy and said he would assume all responsibility, without elaborating.

Prayut spoke to reporters as he and his Cabinet members led their spouses on a visit to the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand in Bangkok’s Ratchathevi district at 9.30am.

The prime minister and his wife, along with the Cabinet members and their spouses, performed voluntary works to help the blind children at the foundation as an activity under the King-initiated “We Do Good With Heart” voluntary project.

The prime minister and entourage donated some learning accessories for the blind to the foundation and took part in making Braille books for blind students at the foundation. They also played games with the blind children, including tug-of-war and football, as well as hosting a lunch for them.

Prayut also joined in singing two songs with the children’s angklung musical band.

After singing, Prayut introduced himself and said he and the Cabinet members and their spouses were happy to carry out voluntary activities at the foundation.

He said his government would not leave anyone behind and would support all the people. He told the blind children not to feel sorry for their disability because they could do all the things that others can do.

A former Pheu Thai Party MP has been formally indicted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission for voting in a House session using the ID cards of other MPs six years ago.

The NACC today submitted an indictment against Narisorn Thongthirat with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Cases against Political Appointees for his alleged acts, which were captured in video and still images of a House session in 2013.

In the indictment, Narisorn has been accused of malfeasance under Article 123/1 of an organic law under the Constitution, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and/or a maximum fine of Bt400,000.

Nine small coalition parties yesterday vowed to continue their support for the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, even after the Thai Civilised Party (TCP) withdrew its support.

The nine, many of which have only one MP, issued a joint statement at a press conference declaring their stance. The parties claim they have never bargained for power with the coalition.

Some said they were still ready to field their non-MP members to take up appointees’ jobs in the new government. The new Constitution bars MPs from taking governmental jobs.

All nine said they respected TCP leader Mongkholkitti Suksintharanont’s decision to ditch the coalition and would remain friendly with him.

New Palang Dharma Party leader Rawee Maschamadol said the nine parties would divide their work to cover both parliamentarian and governmental roles, meaning that they would heed government projects and policies while keeping the Cabinet in check.

Nataphol said he has assigned the agencies concerned to collects opinions and nominate senior officials to the 11 posts that will be vacant at the end of September and has received their replies.

Among the 11 top officials, who will retire at the end of September, are Karun Sakulpradit, permanent secretary for Education Ministry, and Suthep Chitayawong, secretary general of the Office of Basic Education Commission.

Natapol said he has yet to study the documents related to nominations of candidates for the posts sent back to him and he would interview the nominees one by one.

The minister added he so far has no candidates on his mind and does not know anyone in person.

He said he would submit the list of nominees to fill the 11 posts to the Cabinet for approval within this month.

On Tuesday police flew the pair to Bangkok, where they are in custody at Pathum Wan police station.

The two are suspects in the series of small blasts and fires in Bangkok on August 1 and 2.

Lu-ai Zae -Ngae, 22, and Vidal Maha, 29, from Narathiwat province are accused of placing bombs in front of Police Headquarters in Bangkok. They were arrested in Chumphon province before being transferred to Yala province for interrogation.

Authorities have linked the bombings with the southern insurgency.

The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should allocate the 4 per cent of last year’s Bt2.52-trillion national budget that was left unspent.

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said he would push for the completion of Bt6 billion worth of projects instigated by local administrative bodies.

He cautioned that the legality of the proposal would have to be assessed since the money would not be spent freely and unconditionally to prevent corruption.

Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said he believed several billion baht was unspent and that a stimulus package expected to amount to Bt170 billion would be tabled for the Cabinet’s consideration.

Government spokeswoman Naruemol Pinyosinwat said Prayut had instructed Cabinet members to examine their ministries’ unspent budgets and propose uses for the leftover money before the next fiscal year begins on October 1.

She noted Prayut’s suggestion that the money be spent on projects that come under the government’s “12 urgent policies” announced last month.

The Cabinet also heard Undergraduate Studies Minister Suvit Maesincee propose that the spending focus on the bio-, circular and green economy, and on people’s needs at the grass-roots level.

The Thai Civilised Party issued a statement on Tuesday saying it’s only MP was leaving the coalition government because he had not been given a Cabinet seat as promised.

Speaking at a press conference, Mongkholkit Suksintharanont also cautioned the other nine small parties, saying they too will find themselves being let down.

Thai Civilised Party to quit coalition

Mongkholkit said he will be an independent Opposition member and will decide on whether or not to support possible no-confidence motions against the Prayut Chan-o-cha government on a case-by-case basis.

The first-time MP said he remained friendly with the nine small parties despite their decision to stay in the coalition, and also praised many coalition MPs and several senators. He lauded Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanas Phromphao for his generosity. Thammanas lent Mongkholkit some money when he needed it.

He also warned the government about a possible defeat in potential no-confidence motions, saying the coalition’s 249 seats against the Opposition’s 246 was a very narrow margin and the corruption allegations related to the construction of a futsal stadium will be a difficult nut for the Prayut government to crack.