Bhumjaithai MP Chada Thaiseth insisted in a Facebook post on Monday that he did not slap Chartthaipattana MP Nuttavood Prasertsuvan, but only knocked his phone out of his hand.

A former Army chief who led the 2006 military coup has made a surprise move by joining Chartthai Pattana Party, which has historically often become a coalition partner due to its traditional non-confrontational stance.