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BANGKOK - OUSTED Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is being actively consulted by politicians on the formation of the new Thai government, the Bangkok Post said yesterday.
It reported that Thai politicians have been jetting between Bangkok and Hong Kong, where Thaksin has set up his base.
Observers say key figures of the People Power Party (PPP) and its coalition partners have been meeting the deposed prime minister over the allocation of Cabinet portfolios, the daily reported.
They have also discussed electing PPP leader Samak Sundaravej as the country's 25th prime minister today, it added.
Thaksin, leader of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party, moved to Hong Kong from his base in Britain several weeks ago to make it easier to have meetings with visitors.
One of the most prominent visitors was Mr Warawuth Silpa-archa, son of Chart Thai leader Banharn.
Mr Warawuth said he went to Hong Kong with his wife for a shopping trip and took the opportunity to visit Thaksin as well.
'I did go to Hong Kong. I also bumped into a large number of PPP MPs in a hotel,' he was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.
He gave assurances on behalf of his party that Chart Thai MPs would support any person nominated for the premiership by the PPP.
The PPP is largely made up of former Thai Rak Thai members. It won the Dec 23 general election and two weeks ago announced a six-party coalition to form a new government that would hold 315 seats in Thailand's 480-seat Parliament.
The PPP's five allies are the Chart Thai, Matchima Thipataya, Pracharaj, Puea Paendin and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana.
Just back from Hong Kong was Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, a former Thai Rak Thai executive.
She and some Bangkok politicians close to her were scheduled to have dinner yesterday evening.
A source said they will discuss ways to get some of her confidants into Cabinet seats, the newspaper said.
Puea Paendin's key figures, such as Mr Preecha Laohapongchana and Mr Vatchara Pannachet, were also seen boarding flights to Hong Kong, presumably to meet Thaksin.
PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrajang said all the MPs will gather for a briefing at party headquarters before they leave for parliament to vote for Mr Samak as prime minister.
Mr Kudep is confident that all the other coalition members would also vote in favour of Mr Samak.
He denied rumours that faction members within the PPP, particularly north-eastern MPs, were pressing hard for more Cabinet posts.
As the pendulum has swung back in PPP's favour, several military officers have also been visiting Thaksin, Bangkok Post reported.
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