Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's membership of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party has changed the political ball game for him as he has now accepted the status of full-time politician, and faces the enormous challenge of consolidating the new party.
Jan 9, the day he joined the party, marks a crucial turning point for Gen Prayut, long viewed as a reluctant or even a half-hearted politician despite having occupied the prime minister's seat for almost eight years.
