Kla Tham Party

Kla Tham Party พรรคกล้าธรรม
Leader	Narumon Pinyosinwat
Secretary-General	Sajjawit Leelawanit
Founded	March 7, 2020 (2020-03-07)
Split from	Palang Pracharath Party
Headquarters	269 Moo 4, Dok Kham Tai-Chiang Kham Rd., Donsri Chum Subdistrict, Dok Kham Tai District, Phayao Province 130/1 Pansri Building, Ratchadaphisek Rd., Soi Ratchadaphisek 54/1, Lat Yao Subdistrict, Chatuchak District, Bangkok (contact address)
Membership (2024)	27,329
Colours	Yellow
Slogan	Stability and Prosperity Across the Land
House of Representatives	58 / 495
PAO Presidents	3 / 76
Politics of Thailand Political parties Elections

The Kla Tham Party (Thai: พรรคกล้าธรรม, lit. 'Brave Dharma Party') is a political party in Thailand. It was officially registered on 7 April 2020, under its original name, the Thai Economic Party. The party is currently led by Narumon Pinyosinwat.

History

Thai Economic Party

The Thai Economic Party was officially registered as a political entity on April 7, 2020, under registration number 1/2563. Its founding leadership comprised Prasong Wararattanakul as party leader and Methawi Netsawai as secretary-general.

The party gained significant public attention following reports suggesting that Chatchai Promlert, then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, was involved in its establishment. By mid-2021, the party had successfully formed branches across Thailand's four regions and scheduled a general assembly in July. However, this meeting was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On February 19, 2021, Prasong resigned from the party, resulting in his automatic removal as party leader effective February 20, 2021. This also led to the dissolution of the party's executive committee. Despite this, the committee members continued to act in their roles until the election of a new executive body. Ratchanee Siwavech, then serving as deputy party leader, assumed the role of acting leader.

On September 29, 2021, Colonel Suchart Chantharachotikul, a former southern strategy chairman and co-founder of the Palang Pracharath Party, announced in an interview that he, along with a group of nine others led by Tawee Suraban, a former member of parliament from Trang Province, intended to join the Thai Economic Party. However, Colonel Suchart later registered as a member of the Kla Party, led by Korn Chatikavanij.

On December 12, 2021, the Thai Economic Party held a general meeting to elect a new executive committee following the resignation of the previous members. The meeting elected Panya Phukratchawong and Pramote Preephun as the new party leader and secretary-general, respectively.

Subsequently, on March 18, 2022, the party convened its annual general assembly at its new headquarters, located at U Tower on Srinakarin Road. During the meeting, members approved amendments to the party's regulations, changes to the party logo, relocation of its headquarters, and the election of a new executive committee. As expected, General Wit Devahastin Na Ayudhya was elected party leader, and Captain Thamanat Prompow was chosen as secretary-general. Additionally, Bunsing Warinrak was appointed as party registrar, while Thanaporn Siriwiraj, Captain Thamanat’s wife, was named party treasurer.

Logo of Thai Economic Party (2022–2023)

On May 24, 2022, Boonsingh Warinraks, list MP and party membership registrar, revealed that he and 14 other executive committee members had submitted their resignation letters to the party registrar and the Election Commission. This decision led to the dissolution of the current executive committee, with elections for a new committee scheduled to be held within 45 days, as stipulated by the party's regulations. Following this, General Vichai and Khomsan Phanvichatikul resigned from their positions as party leader and deputy spokesperson, respectively.

On June 10, 2022, the Thai Economic Party held an extraordinary general meeting to amend the party's regulations, including relocating its office to 130/1 Soi Ratchadapisek 54, Ratchadapisek Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok, which had previously been the office of the Palang Pracharath Party. The meeting also elected a new executive committee of 24 members, with Major General Thamanat Prompao and Phai Likhit being elected as party leader and secretary-general, respectively.

On October 8, 2022, Major General Thamanat resigned from his position as party leader, effective the same day, which led to the dissolution of the entire executive committee.

On October 10, 2022, the Thai Economic Party held its third extraordinary general meeting to amend the party's regulations again, changing the party's logo, relocating its office to Phayao Province, and electing a new executive committee of 11 members. The meeting elected Cheongsak Jaikam and Sajjawit Leelavanitch as the new party leader and secretary-general, respectively.

Kla Tham Party

On April 25, 2023, the Thai Economic Party held its first annual general meeting of 2023 to amend its party regulations, changing the party's name to "Kla Tham Party." The party also updated its logo, policies, slogans, and ideology. Additionally, the party elected a new party membership registrar, Supakit Panya.

On August 6, 2024, the Kla Tham Party held its first extraordinary general meeting of 2024 to elect a new party leader and executive committee. This followed the resignation of Cheongsak Jaikam as party leader on July 17, 2024. The election results revealed that Narumon Pinyosinwat, Thai Trade Representative, was selected as the new party leader, while Sajjawit Leelavanitch continued as the party's secretary-general.

Narumon stated that the Kla Tham Party's official headquarters would be officially launched in December, located at the Pansee Building, the original office of the Thai Economic Party under Major General Thamanat Prompao. She also mentioned that for the upcoming elections, the Kla Tham Party would focus particularly on the northern, southern, and northeastern regions, as well as in Chachoengsao Province, which is under the responsibility of Ithi Sirilatthayakorn, the deputy minister of agriculture and cooperatives. However, the Kla Tham Party will not directly participate in local elections for the position of provincial administrative organization chairman but will continue to support its members.

Political role

Arrival of Major General Thamanat's group

First instance

On January 19, 2022, Major General Thamanat Prompao, MP for Phayao and former secretary-general of the Palang Pracharath Party, along with 20 other MPs, prepared to join the Thai Economic Party. Unconfirmed reports suggested that General Vich Thephasadin Na Ayutthaya would be named party leader, while Apichai Techauobol, MP and former treasurer of the Democrat Party, would serve as party secretary-general. Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, former National Police Chief, and Admiral Sittawatchar Wongsuwan, the younger brother of General Prawit Wongsuwan, were also rumored to become party advisors. On January 20, 2022, Phai Lik, MP for Kamphaeng Phet 1, who had been expelled from the Palang Pracharath Party along with Major General Thamanat, confirmed via Facebook that the group of 21 MPs would join the Thai Economic Party.

On January 28, 2022, the Thai Economic Party officially notified the House of Representatives that it had accepted 18 MPs who were expelled from the Palang Pracharath Party into its ranks. On February 8, 2022, these MPs participated in their first meeting as members of the Thai Economic Party.

Following the meeting, Bunsingh Worintharak, an MP, announced that the Thai Economic Party would hold its annual general meeting on March 18, 2022, to amend its regulations, relocate its headquarters to U-Tower, and select a new 26-member executive committee.

Second instance

On August 18, 2024, after Major General Thamanat Prompao announced his separation from General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, due to his exclusion from the list of ministers in the new cabinet under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, rumors began to circulate that Major General Thamanat was preparing to move his allied MPs to join the Kla Tham Party.

In the proposed cabinet appointments for Major General Thamanat's faction, Narumol Phinyosinthwattana was nominated for the position of minister of agriculture and cooperatives, replacing Major General Thamanat. On September 3, 2024, a royal decree was issued appointing the new cabinet, with two ministers from Major General Thamanat’s faction in the Kla Tham Party: Narumol Phinyosinthwattana as minister of agriculture and cooperatives, and Itthi Sirilattayakorn as deputy minister of agriculture and cooperatives.

Small party MPs and others joining the party

On October 5, 2024, Krititatch Sangthanyothin, MP from the party list and leader of the New Party, was expelled from the party. The following day, Chao Writthit Kachornpongkitti, MP from the party list and leader of the New Social Power Party, was also expelled. Both later applied for membership in the Kla Tham Party. Krititatch stated that he had applied to join the Kla Tham Party after being expelled from the New Party, where he had no role or support as an opposition party member. He acknowledged that he had been working in isolation and, after discussions with Major General Thamanat Prompao, chose to join the Kla Tham Party, where 5–6 MPs from small parties had been discussing common goals.

On October 15, Buncha Dechjerongsirikul, MP from the party list and leader of the Thai Local Party, joined the Kla Tham Party, increasing the party’s representation to 3 MPs. Six days later, Preeda Boonpleng, MP from the party list and leader of the Teachers for the People Party, who had been expelled from his party, also joined the Kla Tham Party, bringing the total number of MPs to 4.

Additionally, other individuals, such as Phongsak Ja Kaew, head of the Surat Thani Provincial Administration Organization, and Anongnart Ja Kaew, former candidate for Surat Thani MP from the United Thai Nation Party, also joined Kla Tham Party. Anongnart now serves as the secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Narumon Phinyosinthwattana.

Later, on December 11, 2024, the Palang Pracharath Party’s executive board voted to expel Major General Thamanat and 20 MPs from his faction for differing ideologies. The following day, the decision was finalized in a joint meeting between the executive board and MPs. On December 17, Narumol revealed that Major General Thamanat and his faction of 20 MPs would join the Kla Tham Party, with plans for a party restructuring meeting by the end of 2025. It was speculated that Major General Thamanat would become the party’s chief advisor, Phai Lick from Kamphaeng Phet would serve as party secretary, and Athakorn Sirilattayakorn from Chachoengsao would become the party treasurer.

On December 18, 2024, the MPs from Thamanat's group officially joined the Kla Tham Party. The party held a press conference to announce the 20 MPs joining on December 19, 2024, at the Sappayasapasathan.

Subsequently, on December 23, 2024, it was reported that after the party’s annual general meeting in early 2025, the party’s executive board would undergo changes. Among the changes, Bunying Nittikanchana, MP from Ratchaburi, would become the party’s treasurer, while Athakorn Sirilattayakorn, MP from Chachoengsao, would be reassigned from his previous role as treasurer to the position of party registrar. Additionally, five new vice-leaders of the party would be appointed, representing different regions of the country.

Personnel

Party leaders

Order	Photo	Name	Start Date	End Date	Key Positions
1		Prasong Woraratnakun	April 7, 2020	February 19, 2021
-		Ratchanee Siwawet	February 19, 2021	December 12, 2021 (Acting)
2		Panya Pukrachawong	December 12, 2021	March 18, 2022
3		General Vichit Thephasadin Na Ayudhya	March 18, 2022	May 24, 2022	• Former secretary-general of the Royal Equestrian Association of Thailand • Secretary-General of the Olympic Committee of Thailand
4		Lieutenant Colonel Thamanat Prompow	June 10, 2022	October 8, 2022	• Former deputy minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
5		Chawengsak Jaikam	October 10, 2022	July 17, 2024	• Former Provincial Governor of Tak • Former District Chief of Dok Kham Tai District, Phayao Province
6		Narumon Pinyosinwat	August 6, 2024	Present	• Former Spokesperson of the Thai Government • Former deputy minister of Labour • Former Thai Trade Representative • Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives

Secretary-General

Order	Photo	Name	Start Date	End Date	Key Positions
1		Methavi Netthai	April 7, 2020	December 12, 2021
2		Pramot Preepool	December 12, 2021	March 18, 2022
3		Lieutenant Colonel Thamanat Prompow	March 18, 2022	May 24, 2022	• Former deputy minister of agriculture and cooperatives
4		Phai Lik	June 10, 2022	October 8, 2022	• Member of Parliament for Kamphaeng Phet Province (3 terms)
5		Satchawit Leelawanich	October 10, 2022	July 17, 2024	• Deputy Mayor of Phayao Municipality
			August 6, 2024	Present

External links

• Kla Tham Party on Facebook