[2] Behind the scenes, the party was formed by Sanguan Chantharasakha to give parliamentary support to his half-brother Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat in his power struggle with prime minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram.
[1] The opposition could not disempower Phibunsongkhram by parliamentary means, so Sarit Thanarat launched a successful coup d'état on 16 September 1957.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej appointed Sarit "Defender of Bangkok" and he ruled the country by means of a "revolutionary council".
[4] Pote Sarasin resigned as prime minister, Sarit's right-hand man Thanom Kittikachorn, vice-leader of the National Socialist Party, succeeded him.
[5] 26 Sahaphum MPs resigned from the government benches in February 1958, protesting a cut in educational expenditure, while military spending was increased.