Biography of Kriang Kalptinan, the Isan regional commander of the Pheu Thai Party, who began his political journey as an MP in 1995 and passed away at age 73 after his death.
On 11 August 2026, the life of the Pheu Thai Party’s Isan regional commander came to a close. It was announced that Mr. Kriang Kalptinan, former Deputy Minister of Interior and former MP for Ubon Ratchathani, died peacefully at age 73 in the morning of 11 August. His family posted the news and expressed their condolences (read more:).Kriang Kalptinan, former Deputy Minister of Interior, passed away peacefully at age 73; family expresses mourning.)
Mr. Kriang Kalptinan, nicknamed Biao, was born on 27 November 1952 and passed away 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, MP for Ubon Ratchathani from the Pheu Thai Party, and Mr. Apisit Kalptinan.
Education: Kriang graduated with a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and a master's degree in Educational Administration from Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University. His younger brother, Mr. Karn Kalptinan, served two terms as president of the Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Administrative Organization. On 3 January 2024, Kriang was conferred the rank of Territorial Defense Volunteer Colonel.
Kriang was elected MP for Ubon Ratchathani, Constituency 1, for the first time in the 1995 election as a member of the Democrat Party, defeating Mr. Chaiyasi Rueangkanjaneseth, a prominent figure in Lower Isan, showcasing his political skills. In the 1996 election, he was re-elected but switched to the New Aspiration Party, then later joined Thai Rak Thai Party for the 2001 and 2005 elections. In 2007, the Constitutional Court dissolved the Thai Rak Thai Party and banned its executive members, including Kriang, from politics for five years.
Later, Kriang returned to politics, becoming deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party in 2012. In the 2014 election, he ran on the party list at number 42. After the 2014 coup, on 30 May 2016, the commander of the 22nd Military Circle at Sapphasitthiprasong Camp in Warin Chamrap District, Ubon Ratchathani, summoned Kriang, acting deputy leader of Pheu Thai, along with Warasit and Mrs. Phitaya Kalptinan (Warisit's wife and mayor of Ubon Ratchathani) for talks about influential persons' policies. Kriang 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 ran again on the party list at number 10 for the Pheu Thai Party but was not elected due to the party having more MPs than constitutionally allowed. In 2020, he was re-elected as deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party by the party's general assembly.
In the 2023 election, Kriang ran on the Pheu Thai party list at number 6 and was elected. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Interior on 1 September 2023 in Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s cabinet. He was assigned by Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to oversee operations at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, as well as supervise the Marketing Organization and the Wastewater Management Organization.
In 2004, he was awarded the Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant.
In 2001, he received the Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand.
In 2025, he was awarded the Second Class, Second Category of the Freedom Defender Medal.
In 1967, he received the Freedom Defender Medal.
However, Kriang had an ongoing case. On 9 July 2026, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found Mrs. Rojana Kalptinan, former mayor of Ubon Ratchathani, and others guilty of dividing a road construction contract worth 43.221 million baht in 2006 into 26 projects, each not exceeding 2 million baht, to avoid bidding and favor certain private companies. The investigation found that Kriang, then Rojana's husband, ordered the division and interfered in municipal operations, directing contracts to companies linked to relatives and close associates, arranging pre-selected bidders before Rojana signed the contracts.
The NACC will forward the case and opinion to the Attorney General to proceed to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions, inform the Election Commission, and send the case to the relevant agencies for disciplinary action under the law (read more:).NACC indicts Rojana and Kriang Kalptinan for colluding in Ubon Ratchathani road project bids favoring relatives.)
Most 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 be transported to Ubon Ratchathani at around 3:00 p.m. on 12 August, with the first funeral prayer ceremony scheduled for 13 August. He also thanked the people of Ubon Ratchathani for their love and trust in Kriang and the Kalptinan family.