Kriang Kalptinan, a veteran politician from Ubon Ratchathani who made the province his base in national politics, died on Aug. 11, 2026, at Vichaiyut Hospital in Bangkok, Thairath reported, citing a family announcement. He was 73.
He first won a seat in Thailand’s lower house of Parliament from Ubon Ratchathani in 1995 and was re-elected in 1996, 2001 and 2005. His four victories spanned three parties.
After Thai Rak Thai was dissolved, its executive members faced a five-year political ban. After the ban, Kalptinan returned to senior Pheu Thai leadership as a deputy leader in 2012 and held the post again in 2020, helping organize the party’s northeastern base. He regained a House seat in 2023 as a Pheu Thai representative. In September 2023, he became deputy minister in the Interior Ministry, which handles local administration and disaster management.
While reviewing flood conditions on Oct. 2, 2023, he called on Thailand’s disaster-management agency to prioritize prevention and water management before the rainy season instead of relying mainly on emergency relief after damage occurred, The Standard reported. On Dec. 26, 2023, he joined the prime minister at a flood shelter in Narathiwat, where more than 200 people were sheltering. The Public Relations Department of Thailand reported that the prime minister said Kalptinan would oversee the overall response while the Interior Ministry handled relief and warning measures.
