Thailand’s opposition plans censure of Bhumjaithai ministers

Thailand’s opposition was preparing on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) to file a no-confidence motion this week targeting more than 10 ministers individually, all holding Cabinet posts allocated to the Bhumjaithai Party, according to sources among opposition party leaders.

Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, known as “Teng”, has signalled plans to submit it as soon as possible.

The sources said the motion could be filed on October 7–8 in a “lightning-fast” move to catch House Speaker Sophon Zaram off guard, with a joint press conference planned for Thursday at 2pm.

The debate is expected to be placed on the parliamentary agenda during October.

Under Section 151 of the Constitution, the motion requires support from at least one-fifth of members of parliament (MPs) in the House of Representatives, or at least 100 MPs.

The People’s Party can submit it alone and may allow other opposition parties to add their names afterwards to prevent information from leaking.

Almost all, or all, of the targets are expected to be among 13 ministers named in complaint files concerning alleged Senate election collusion handled by Central Investigation and Inquiry Committee No. 26.

They include Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, whom the opposition may challenge as interior minister to avoid the motion being interpreted as one against the entire Cabinet.

Its concern is that a successful no-confidence vote against him as prime minister would require the whole Cabinet to leave office.

The strategy is intended to test whether other coalition parties, particularly the Pheu Thai Party, would support the targeted ministers.

Pheu Thai previously scrutinised the Senate collusion allegations and pushed the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take the matter on as a “special case” involving allegations of membership of a secret society and money laundering.

The agenda covers previously reported issues and recent developments.

Detailed groundwork has been laid for some matters, with only key evidence still awaited.

On the flood crisis in Bangkok and other provinces, the opposition plans to challenge what it describes as “poor” management that left floodwater standing until it turned foul.

It also intends to question the attention paid to the response, citing an entire group’s attendance at a birthday celebration for a figure known as “Kru Yai” while many areas remained inundated.

On alleged Senate election collusion, the sources said information from Election Commission member Sittichote Intaravises, who took a minority position, had made the picture clearer.

They allege that Subcommittee No. 36 refused to meet during the first 45 days, citing overseas travel, allowing some commissioners’ terms to expire before replacements linked to senators described as “blue” were appointed.

The opposition also plans to scrutinise the appointment of Pol Capt Piya Raksakul as the new DSI director-general; he was a member of that subcommittee.

Anutin was deputy prime minister and interior minister in the Pheu Thai government during the national-level Senate selection.

The opposition also plans to present evidence referring to him over alleged cheating in local government examinations during his tenure as interior minister in that government, as well as to close associates at “right-hand man” or “proxy” level linked to an influential Buri Ram political family.

TH-AI Passport, scammers and grey capital are also on the planned debate agenda.