The Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties have yet to commit themselves to support the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) in forming a coalition government.
Supporters of the Democrats on Twitter meanwhile, say they would prefer that the party assumes the role of the opposition rather than joining a pro-military coalition.
The Democrat Party yesterday agreed at a meeting that it will let its new executive board and newly elected MPs decide whether to join any coalition government or sit in opposition.
The official results of the March 24 election and the endorsement of winning poll candidates will be announced by the Election Commission (EC) on May 9.
The country's oldest political party yesterday held a meeting of its acting executives, former MPs and its winning poll candidates to discuss two important issues -- whether the party should hold a primary vote to select its new leader and new executive board, and who will have a say on which direction the party moves in.
Abhisit Vejjajiva, who resigned as party leader after the party suffered a devastating defeat in last Sunday's general election, did not attend the meeting.
The meeting was chaired by acting party leader Jurin Laksanawisit. Deputy Democrat leader Alongkorn Ponlaboot said after the meeting that members in attendance thought the decision on the party's direction should rest with the new party executives and the party's newly elected MPs.
"This means we must wait until our winning candidates are officially endorsed by the EC on May 9. After that, our new leader and executives will be elected to decide the future of the party," he said.
Mr Alongkorn revealed that the opinions of those at the meeting were divided. While one side supported the idea of joining a coalition government "with conditions'', the other favoured the party assuming the role of a "constructive opposition''.
Parit Wacharasindhu, a so-called "New Dem" Democrat member, said he wanted the party to take on the role of a constructive opposition in line with the party's ideology, rather than join any coalition government.
"As a party member and a representative of the 3.9 million popular votes we won, I think we need to be honest in our ideology," Mr Parit said.
Mr Parit was referring to Mr Abhisit's stance before the election that the party would not support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha or corrupt politicians returning to power.
Mr Parit insisted that the Democrats did not need to be part of a coalition government, no matter if it was led by Pheu Thai or Palang Pracharath, but that they would vote in parliament for good policies or those which tallied with their own and against any issue that contradicts the party's policies.
On Thursday, senior Democrat politician Thaworn Senneam, who won a constituency seat in Songkhla, said the Democrats should join the coalition led by the PPRP, arguing that the PPRP won more than 8.4 million votes according to the unofficial results released by the EC on Thursday.
However, these results also showed Pheu Thai as the winner with 137 constituency seats, leading second-placed arch-rival Palang Pracharath by 19 seats, on the premise that the latter gets an estimated 21 party-list seats.
On Wednesday, six parties led by Pheu Thai announced their intention to form a coalition.
On Friday, #Oneof3.9million ranked as the top trend on Thai Twitter, and referred to those who voted for the Democrat Party who opposed the party joining the PPRP-led coalition and wanted it to assume the role of an "independent opposition''.
On Thursday, Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul posted on Facebook, saying that Bhumjaithai will not make any decision on its political stance regarding the next government until the EC announces the official poll results on May 9.
"Therefore, any information that does not come from the party cannot be trusted," Mr Anutin wrote.
Mr Anutin was responding to a Facebook post by noted reporter Sermsuk Kasitipradit who claimed that the Bhumjaithai leader would support Gen Prayut returning as prime minister.
The Bhumjaithai Party is emerging as a potential "kingmaker" in the post-election power struggle -- the result of which is still too early to call. Unofficial results released by the EC on Thursday show that the party won 39 constituency seats and an estimated 13 party-list MPs.
Meanwhile, PPRP leader Uttama Savanayana yesterday read a party statement which reiterated its stance that any political party can gather support from other parties to form a coalition government.
He said that coalition talks among political parties will not be settled until after the EC releases the official poll results on May 9.
The PPRP also called on other parties to respect the decision of voters, whoever they cast their ballot for.
Mr Uttama also denied that other parties were reluctant to join the PPRP-led alliance because the PPRP wanted to control all ministries handling economic affairs.
