All eyes will be on three cabinet ministers next week when the Phalang Pracharat Party, known to be affiliated with the military regime, holds a general assembly next Saturday, to select a party leader and its executives.
Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana, Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong, and PM's Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool are widely rumoured to be planning to step down and make an appearance at the Phalang Pracharat Party's first gathering.
According to a source close to the three ministers, they are expected to join the party at its first official meeting after two of them gave hints about their political future.
While Mr Sontirat told the media he would very shortly announce his political future, Mr Kobsak was quoted as telling the media to "hold their breath" for a surprise on Sept 29.
The trio has been linked to the newly registered party from the start, and the Sept 29 general assembly, which is to take place at Impact Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi province, is likely to set the record straight.
Mr Uttama is speculated to be named as the party leader, Mr Sontirat as the party's secretary-general and Mr Kobsak as the party's spokesman, according to the same source.
The Phalang Pracharat Party was registered with the Election Commission (EC) in early March of this year, and is seen as a potential vehicle to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's return to power if he wishes to.
The party's name is the same as the government's Pracharath people-state partnership development programme.
A source close to the party said dozens of Pheu Thai defectors are expected to officially declare their support for Phalang Pracharat next week, including those in the Northeast.
The source said an initial selection of election candidates is under way and many potential candidates have been approached by military figures in the region.
Kobsak: Tells media to hold breath
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday cabinet ministers are not legally required to engage in political party activities, but can do so.
He said there should be nothing wrong with it if they can manage their time and don't exploit state resources for personal gain.
"I think it is a boost to democratic development," he added.
Meanwhile, political parties are taking action after the regime relaxed its ban on political activities.
Pheu Thai plans to hold a general assembly to select a party leader and a 21-member executive board on Oct 28, its acting secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday. An 11-member central committee will be set up on the same day to conduct primary voting.
Speaking after the first meeting yesterday of the acting executive board since the May 2014 coup, he said the meeting was to confirm the party's status and its readiness to contest the general election.
He said the party leadership race is open to all party members, and the contest will not create conflicts within the ranks.
The proposed new regulations, party manifestos and platforms as well as the new party's structure would be published on its website until a general meeting to ratify them takes place on Oct 3.
He called on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) not to get nervous as the party's key members would travel to the provinces to recruit new members as required by the new law on political parties.
"They are unlikely to come to us so we have to go to them. There is no need for the NCPO to worry over this. We're doing what the laws say," Mr Phumtham said.
He also shrugged off reports that Sam Mitr (Three Allies), which is believed to be the regime's recruting arm, has approached former Pheu Thai MPs to join the group. He said switching parties during an election season is a normal practice, and it is the voters who get to decide.
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, who is a strong candidate for the party leadership, did not attend yesterday's meeting, according to her close aide, Anudit Nakhonthap.
Mr Anudit said the veteran politician is part of the party's acting executive board and is expected to reapply as a party member when it calls for new members on Tuesday.
The Bhumjaithai Party will hold meetings on Monday and Oct 2 to amend party regulations in line with the new laws and pick a new party leader and executives.
Supachai Jaisamut, deputy secretary-general of the party, said party leader Anutin Charnvirakul will be nominated to remain the party leader and the party's candidate for the prime minister's post.
In a related development, the EC has announced regulations involving the selection of 50 senators in the Royal Gazette. They involve details of the intra-group election of the senators, candidate qualifications, and criteria to prevent collusion.
