Newin hopes for Thaksin's forgiveness

Obviously, Newin realises that he betrayed Thaksin and will never be forgiven, which is why he has decided not to become leader of his party. In fact, he is so worried about his party’s future that he initially planned to put former Thai Rak Thai executive, Anuthin Charnweerakul, in the party leader’s seat so Thaksin would agree to take Bhum Jai Thai into the coalition fold. 

Besides, Newin has complete trust in Anuthin because he is a key financier of the party and has always stood by the Chidchob family in times of political difficulties.

However, the plan to make Anuthin Bhum Jai Thai’s leader had to be dropped, after Thaksin refused to give the plan his blessing. Anuthin reportedly met Thaksin in South Korea and Hong Kong several times to discuss the plan of bringing Bhum Jai Thai into the coalition, but to no avail. 

According to a source, Thaksin was heard telling Anuthin: “It’s fine that we are neighbours.”

So, Newin ended up having to seek help from Somsak Thepsutin, another former Thai Rak Thai executive who leads the six-MP Matchima faction in Bhum Jai Thai.

Actually, even if he didn’t have Newin’s support, Somsak was planning to have his faction become part of the coalition. However, if Somsak becomes Bhum Jai Thai’s leader once his political ban is lifted later this month, Som-sak will have a better chance of winning at least a Cabinet seat for himself.

And even though Newin does not trust Somsak as much as Anuthin, he has no choice but to use his service. 

Somsak is believed to have good ties with Thaksin and his Pheu Thai Party through the former PM’s sister, Yaowapa Wongsawat. When both Somsak and Yaowapa were members of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, Somsak’s Wang Nam Yom faction was an ally of Yaowapa’s Wang Bua Ban faction.

Some inside sources have said that Somsak had previously approached Newin, asking if he could borrow some Bhum Jai Thai MPs to count as members of his Matchima faction to negotiate for a Cabinet seat. At the time, Somsak was also considering joining coalition partner Mahachon Party and becoming its leader. Then he could add the Matchima faction MPs to bargain for a Cabinet seat.

Newin had initially turned down Somsak’s request, saying the entire party had to become part of the coalition, not just certain parts of it. Also at that time, Newin was eyeing Anuthin as his party’s leader, so he could afford to turn down Somsak’s request. 

However, now that Anuthin has failed to win a green light from the big boss, Newin is likely to turn to Somsak.

This is probably why, when Somsak turned up at a special football event held for former Thai Rak Thai executives on Monday, his presence raised eyebrows among political observers. They brought to notice the political significance that Somsak’s presence at the football match had. 

Many believed that he was there to lobby for Bhum Jai Thai to be made part of the coalition. 

However, the final decision would still have to be made by the big boss and obviously, Newin is keeping his fingers crossed.