Several politicians from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party and members of the Shinawatra family reportedly visited their boss, Thaksin Shinawatra, in Beijing last week.
The fugitive ex-prime minister's guests included Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, banned ex-Thai Rak Thai politician Sudarat Keyuraphan and Bangkok MP Karun Hosakul, as well as Thaksin's sister Yaowapa Wongsawat and his son Panthongtae.
Their discussion was about how to win the battle at every level of election.
"The boss wanted to win back the political base in all areas, after losing [some areas] to our rivals," said a party leader who asked not to be named.
One of the biggest polls taking place this year is for the election of presidents of the Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) in each of the 76 provinces. The elections will not be held on one particular day, as they are dependent on when each incumbent's term expires.
Winning in the PAO elections would be an excellent pointer to victory in the next general election, which Thaksin expects could be held soon after amendment of the Constitution is completed, a party source said.
The source said Thaksin might have his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, call a House dissolution after the country gets a new charter, the content of which is expected to favour the ruling Pheu Thai Party, as it will be able to control the majority of the members of a new Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA).
Parliament will tomorrow consider three separate charter-amendment drafts to seek changes to Article 291 of the post-coup 2007 Constitution and pave the way for the setting up of a CDA.
With expectations that a new charter would be completed by the beginning of next year, at the earliest, calling a general election soon after that would be perfect timing for the 111 banned politicians, who will be freed from the ban this May, to make a comeback to politics.
However, while waiting for the charter to be completed and then a general election, Thaksin plans to reshuffle his sister's Cabinet for a second time once the 111 are no longer subject to the ban.
Some of the 111 banned politicians, such as Sudarat, Pongthep Thepkanchana, Prommin Lertsuridej, Chaturon Chaisang, Varathep Ratanakorn and Suranand Vejjajiva, would then be appointed ministers in Yingluck's Cabinet.
The next Cabinet reshuffle is, apparently, a win-win strategy. First, Yingluck will have more experienced people to help her. Second, the 111 currently banned politicians will have a chance to "remove the rust". Third, Thaksin also wants to win the battle in the Bangkok governor election, where the current office holder's term ends next January.
Thaksin plans to appoint Sudarat, formerly head of the party's Bangkok MPs, as deputy prime minister overseeing Bangkok in the next reshuffle, to prepare her for running in the gubernatorial election, the source said.
But if Sudarat were still needed in Yingluck's government as a Cabinet member, Pheu Thai would then recruit other candidates to run in the election.
One of the most important qualifications for a Bangkok governor candidate is the ability to solve flood problems, according to a party source.
"We believe we have a high chance [of winning], but we have to find a good, high-profile and outstanding figure to run as our candidate," the source said.
Thaksin saw an opportunity to win the battle in Bangkok after the clash between the Democrat Party's Bangkok governor, MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, and Yingluck's government during the devastating flooding that hit Bangkok late last year.
"The Democrat Party, through Sukhumbhand, failed to impress Bangkokians over tackling the problem, despite [the party] being in administration [of the capital] for almost eight years. So it's time for us to win back Bangkokians' hearts," Thaksin was quoted as saying.
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