The Nayak moment: Thailand gets a new PM–for just one day!
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: In the 2001 Hindi movie “Nayak: The Real Hero,” actor Anil Kapoor, playing the role of a TV cameraman Shivaji Rao, becomes the Chief Minister for a day, in place of the incumbent played by Amrish Puri.
Thailand’s politics has just delivered a Nayak-like moment as, amid a political upheaval, seasoned politician Suriya Jungrungreangkit, 70, stepped in as Acting Prime Minister, but only for a day.
Currently the Deputy PM and Transport Minister, his surprise elevation was prompted by the Constitutional Court’s decision to suspend the incumbent PM, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, over alleged ethical violations. A Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday will give a new Thai PM.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 38, was appointed as Prime Minister on August 16, 2024, following the disqualification of Srettha Thavisin. On Tuesday, she was suspended from her duties by the Constitutional Court, the media reported on Wednesday.
The court found “sufficient cause to suspect” the daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra breached ministerial ethics in the midst of a diplomatic row involving neighbouring Cambodia.
At the heart of the controversy was a leaked audio recording where Paetongtarn referred to Cambodian ex-leader Hun Sen as “uncle” and described a Thai military commander as her “opponent.” The remarks, made during a tense cross-border standoff that turned deadly in May, sparked outrage and triggered accusations of undermining the Thai military.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s suspension added to the turbulence already facing her family’s political dynasty, with her father Thaksin Shinawatra currently facing royal defamation charges in court.
Suriya took the oath as the Acting PM and attended a ceremonial event in Bangkok marking the 93rd anniversary of the PM’s office, an ironic setting for a man who won’t even be in office for 93 hours.
Often dubbed a political weathervane for his ability to align with ruling powers, Suriya’s day-long premiership will be short-lived. A Cabinet reshuffle, already on the cards, will culminate in the swearing-in of Phumtham Wechayachai as the new Interior Minister and Deputy PM on Thursday.
Despite assigning herself the post of Culture Minister in the new Cabinet, Paetongtarn’s fall from the top seat reflects the Shinawatra family’s waning grip on Thai politics.
Once seen as the unstoppable force behind the ruling Pheu Thai party, Paetongtarn’s plummeting approval ratings and desertion by coalition allies have weakened her standing significantly.
For now, Thailand has embraced its own Nayak moment, though unlike in the film, not many would be expecting Suriya to clean up the system overnight, like Anil Kapoor did in the movie.
