BANGKOK, Sept 10: Thailand slid deeper into political crisis on Wednesday as it searched for consensus on who should head the government after a court forced the prime minister from office for accepting payment for hosting a TV cookery show.

Amid the turmoil, ousted prime minister Samak Sundaravej disappeared from the public eye even as his People’s Power Party vowed to re-nominate him to the post during a vote in Parliament on Friday --- a move unlikely to find favour even with some of its partners in the ruling coalition.

“The coalition partners have suggested finding an alternative person who is acceptable to all parties,” Paichit Sriworakan, a PPP official, told reporters.

“So far there is no clear indication who is going to be the next prime minister,” said Suraphong Suebwonglee, another senior party official, told reporters. “We have to meet and talk about this.”

Samak has repeatedly been a lightning rod for controversy during his four decades in politics and is once again the focus of deep divisions in Thai politics.

Samak faced stiff opposition from an anti-government group that began staging street protests just months after he won elections in December 2007. The group’s supporters stormed the Government House compound on Aug 26, demanding Samak resign, and thousands have occupied it ever since.

On Tuesday, Samak was finally forced from office when the Constitutional Court found him guilty of violating the constitution for receiving payment to host a TV cooking show while in office.

But the protesters, who call themselves the People’s Alliance for Democracy, said they plan to continue their siege until it is absolutely clear that Samak, or any of his close allies, will not get reappointed.

On Wednesday, the opposition Democrat Party suggested forming a national unity government comprising all political parties.

“The best way to resolve the crisis is to form a national (unity) government in which all parties join hands for the sake of peace and national reconciliation,” Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.—AP