No talks of opposition, Atthakorn reaffirmed Kla Tham remains united

Today (February 26, 2026), Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, Minister of Tourism and Sports and MP for Chachoengsao Constituency 2 of the Kla Tham Party, had an interview at the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) after receiving his MP certification. Mr. Atthakorn said the Kla Tham Party's attitude on joining the government is up to the Prime Minister. He expressed trust in the party's ability and the personnel who are willing to contribute to the country's prosperity.

When asked by reporters if Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Capt. Thamanat Promphao, the party's advisor, had spoken with the party, Mr. Atthakorn stated that everyone is supportive; they are one family, despite false attacks from other political parties prior to the election. He went on to say that the Kla Tham Party has gained the trust of the people in all 57 constituencies, which he regarded as an important step.

Concerning the leaked cabinet list, which did not include the Kla Tham Party, Mr. Atthakorn stated that he was uninformed of the facts since he is focusing on party membership and addressing concerns in Chachoengsao province. He noted that negotiations are the responsibility of senior party members, notably the party's advisor.Finally, he questioned the Kla Tham Party's ability to engage with the people if it were in opposition. Mr. Attakorn claimed that the party has a particular character and perspective, but declined to clarify because he is not in opposition. He stated that they will do what they believe is best for the country and will not be influenced by others' actions.

Regarding rumors of Kla Tham Party defections, Mr. Attakorn stated that they continue to support each other and will hold meetings with party members following the election. Everyone agreed to continue together, and he underlined that there are no defectors within the party. He believes all 57 MPs agree since they are all in the same situation right now.

Furthermore, Mr. Attakorn indicated that after Capt. Thamanat returned after viewing the Northern Lights, they had a chat in which he requested guidance on his role as Deputy Prime Minister, supervising the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. When asked about his thoughts on the Pheu Thai Party receiving the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Attakorn stated that he did not have a specific opinion because the Ministry of Agriculture's work has been ongoing since the time of Capt. Thamanat and Ms. Narumon Pinyosinwat, and he believes the position is difficult to fill. He did, however, ensure that they will continue to work together to benefit farmers.