He said the party's executive committee already made clear that it would work with the Bhumjaithai Party, so it was not possible that Bhumjaithai's Matchima faction, led by Somsak Thepsuthin, would be accepted if it wanted to defect.

Mr Plodprasop said Pheu Thai already has 300 of the 500 parliamentary seats.

"We don't like to steal MPs from other parties, like some parties did to Pheu Thai in the past." "Right now our focus is on carrying out our policies and solving people's problems," Mr. Plodprasop said.

Pheu Thai core member Pongpan Sunthornchai took the same tone, saying Pheu Thai should not bring a "snake" from Bhumjaithai into the party.