Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Wednesday her father Thaksin was just joking when he told party MPs on Tuesday he was ready to work as her assistant if asked, a remark which could put the party at risk of dissolution.
Ms Paetongtarn told reporters that Thaksin made the off-the-cuff remark when speaking at a Pheu Thai Party Academy session for young MPs at party headquarters on Tuesday.
Asked if she, as Pheu Thai leader, would officially appoint Thaksin as her assistant, Ms Paetongtarn told reporters she would not do that because Thaksin had many other things that he wanted to do.
However, she naturally asked his advice as a member of the same family, she said.
Thaksin was ready to share his experience with any interested party, not only Pheu Thai MPs, Ms Paetongtarn said.
Earlier the Election Commission warned that Pheu Thai risked dissolution if Thaksin was proved to control the party.
Former Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong said on Facebook that Thaksin wanted to strengthen young members of Pheu Thai so they could compete with rivals in the Move Forward Party.
He recalled that Thaksin earlier visited Nakhon Ratchasima province and invited the chairman of the Chart Pattana Party to support Pheu Thai.
That showed Thaksin was the de facto leader of Pheu Thai, he said.
