Bangkok:A heated exchange occurred in parliament as Senator Nanthana Nanthavaropas expressed her frustration after failing to secure a seat on an ad hoc committee.

According to Thai News Agency, Nanthana accused the "blue" senators of monopolizing power and hindering checks and balances. She lamented that during her tenure of over two years as a senator, she had served on few committees, describing her daily experience in parliament as akin to being surrounded by aggressive critics.

The incident took place during a Senate meeting chaired by Second Deputy Speaker Boonsong Noisophanon while deliberating the draft Teacher and Educational Personnel Council Act (Amendment). Despite receiving 28 votes in her favor, she faced 96 votes against, 22 abstentions, and 4 non-votes, resulting in her exclusion from the committee. Nanthana thanked her colleagues for their support, emphasizing the vote reflected a rejection of the "blue" senators, a group she declared she would never join. She criticized the Senate for failing to act as a proper check-and-balance entity, instead serving personal interests.

In response, Senator Atcharaphan Homros clarified that committee selections were based on main committee representation and not political factions. She explained the process included a lottery for nominations, a point Nanthana could have addressed through the chairman.

The disagreement escalated when Nanthana insisted on her right to speak, leading to a verbal tussle with Atcharaphan. Despite attempts by Boonsong to silence the exchange by turning off their microphones, the argument persisted.

Nanthana claimed that her exclusion was systematic, with her name consistently omitted from committee lists. She highlighted the disparity in committee allocations, noting independent senators, like herself, received fewer opportunities compared to majority members.

She further explained that selection was influenced by a system involving the committee chairman and the Senate whip, with an alphabetical selection process leaving her marginalized. Nanthana recounted protests made in committee meetings regarding her exclusion, only to be told her name was habitually bypassed.

In her concluding remarks, Nanthana expressed her belief that personal animosity influenced committee selections, asserting that outspoken senators were sidelined. She noted her absence from all ad hoc committees, including those unrelated to her critique, underscoring her exclusion throughout her Senate career.