Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has kept tight-lipped on the main opposition Pheu Thai Party's indication that Gen Prawit Wongsuwon -- his deputy and leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) -- could be someone it could do business with in forging an alliance after the next polls and not him.
Gen Prayut walked away when he was asked by reporters at Government House to comment on Pheu Thai's position on Gen Prawit, and a remark made by a PPRP MP that he should step aside and Gen Prawit run after the next election as the party's sole prime ministerial candidate.
The prime minister was also asked for his reaction to the suggestion that he and Gen Prawit should split the four-year premiership tenure equally after the next election, assuming the PPRP is given a chance to lead the next government. Again, Gen Prayut declined to answer.
Based on the Constitutional Court's Sept 30 ruling, Gen Prayut is believed to have two more years left of his maximum eight years as premier. If he had the opportunity to return as premier after the next polls slated for May 7 next year, he would only be able to stay in the post for half the term. The remainder might be filled by Gen Prawit.
Pheu Thai leader Dr Cholnan Srikaew, however, suggested earlier that Gen Prawit might be a better person than Gen Prayut to ally with after the next election.
This led to strong speculation about Pheu Thai and PPRP possibly forming a government together although Gen Prayut would be left out.
Resistance towards Gen Prayut from Pheu Thai, which is also brewing within some quarters of the PPRP, is gathering steam as parties prepare for the election.
On Tuesday, Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, said his party might be able to team up with Gen Prawit, but not Gen Prayut. He insisted he still holds grudges against Gen Prayut for leading the 2014 military coup.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin, speaking in his capacity as the PPRP's chief strategist, declined to say whether or not the PPRP has decided to nominate Gen Prayut for prime minister after the next election. "It's a tough nut to crack for me," he said.
Also, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, leader of the Thai Sang Thai Party, was asked if her party would work with Gen Prayut if the latter decided to continue his political career.
"You'd better ask the people if they will let him continue," she said.
