Charupong Ruangsuwan has resigned as the leader of Thailand's Pheu Thai party, said the party’s acting Deputy Secretary-General Chavalit Wichayasut on June 20.

Charupong, who is also a former Interior Minister, tendered his resignation in a letter received on June 16, in which he said he wanted to step down from May 22, the day of the military coup, according to Chavalit.

Since the coup, Charupong has remained at large, reportedly outside Thailand, and refused to report to the military junta as summoned.

The Bangkok military court has issued arrest warrants for him and six other figures who defied junta summons. The warrants will expire in 10 years.

According to Chavalit, Charupong's departure automatically dissolved Pheu Thai's executive board. A new board is unable to be elected given the junta's order banning political parties from conducting activities.-VNA