Kriang Kalptinan, the Isan regional commander for the Pheu Thai Party, began his political journey as an MP in 1995 and passed away peacefully at the age of 73.
On 11 Aug 2026, the life of the Isan regional political commander of the Pheu Thai Party came to a close. News confirmed that Mr. Kriang Kalptinan, former Deputy Minister of Interior and former MP for Ubon Ratchathani, passed away peacefully at age 73 that morning. His family announced the news and expressed their condolences.Kriang Kalptinan, former Deputy Minister of Interior, passed away peacefully at age 73, with family expressing their sorrow.)
Mr. Kriang Kalptinan, nicknamed Biao, was born on 27 November 1952 and died on 11 August 2026 at age 73. He was born in Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. He was married to Mrs. Rojana Kalptinan, former Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani City. They had one daughter (deceased) and two sons: Mr. Warasit Kalptinan, current MP for Ubon Ratchathani from Pheu Thai, and Mr. Apisit Kalptinan.
Education: Kriang earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and a master's degree in educational administration from Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University. His younger brother, Mr. Kan Kalptinan, served twice as the Chief Executive of Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Administrative Organization. On 3 January 2024, Kriang was awarded the rank of Colonel in the Territorial Defense Volunteers.
Kriang was first elected MP for Ubon Ratchathani’s first constituency in the 1995 election, representing the Democrat Party. He defeated Mr. Chaiyasi Rueangkanjanet, a dominant figure in lower Isan, marking a notable debut. In the 1996 election, he was re-elected for a second term but switched to the New Aspiration Party. Later, he joined the Thai Rak Thai Party for the 2001 and 2005 elections. In 2007, the Constitutional Court dissolved Thai Rak Thai and banned its executives—including Kriang—from politics for five years.
Kriang returned to politics in 2012, becoming Deputy Leader of the Pheu Thai Party. In the 2014 election, he ran on the party-list system at number 42. Following the 2014 coup, on 30 May 2016, the commander of the 22nd Military Circle at Sappasitthiprasong Camp in Warin Chamrap District summoned Kriang, then acting Deputy Leader of Pheu Thai, along with his son Warasit and daughter-in-law Pitaya Kalptinan (Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani), to discuss policies regarding influential figures. He resigned from the Thai Raksa Chart Party on 23 November 2018 and joined the Pheu Thai Party the next day.
In the 2019 election, Kriang again ran on the party-list for Pheu Thai at number 10 but was not elected due to the party having more MPs than constitutionally allowed. In 2020, he was reappointed Deputy Leader of Pheu Thai by the party's general assembly.
In the 2023 election, Kriang ran on Pheu Thai’s party-list at number 6 and was elected. On 1 September 2023, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Interior in Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s cabinet. He was assigned by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to oversee the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and supervise the Marketing Organization and the Wastewater Management Organization.
In 2004, he was awarded the highest class of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Knight Grand Cordon, Special Class).
In 2001, he received the highest class of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (Knight Grand Cordon, Special Class).
In 2025, he received the 2nd class 2nd category of the Free Citizen Protection Medal.
In 1967, he was awarded the Citizen Protection Medal.
However, Kriang had pending legal issues. On 9 July 2026, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) resolved to indict Mrs. Rojana Kalptinan, former Mayor of Ubon Ratchathani, and associates for collusive bidding related to the 2006 construction project to upgrade and expand road surfaces worth 43.221 million baht, divided into 26 projects of no more than 2 million baht each to avoid public bidding and favor certain private companies. The investigation found that Kriang, then her husband, directed the splitting of contracts and interfered with municipal operations, ensuring companies linked to relatives and close associates received contracts, with prearranged bidders before Mrs. Rojana approved the contracts.
The NACC will forward the case and recommendations to the Attorney General to prosecute at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders. The election commission will be informed, and the relevant agencies will be instructed to take disciplinary actions under the law.NACC prosecutes Rojana and Kriang Kalptinan for collusive road project bidding in Ubon Ratchathani favoring relatives.)
On 11 May 2026, the day former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from Klong Prem Central Prison, Kriang was among those who went to welcome him despite noticeably frail health.
Recently, Mr. Warasit, Kriang’s son, confirmed that his father passed away at Vichaiyut Hospital at 10:35 a.m. on 11 August. The body is expected to arrive in Ubon Ratchathani around 3 p.m. on 12 August, with the first funeral rite scheduled for 13 August. He also thanked the people of Ubon Ratchathani for their love and trust in Kriang and the Kalptinan family.