Political observers will be watching with intense interest as another new party, known as Thai Raksa Chart, holds its general meeting on Wednesday and unveils its key members.
The Thai Raksa Chart Party, said to be another affiliate of the Pheu Thai Party in addition to Pheu Tham and Pheu Chart, is expected to be driven by young politicians in a bid to appeal to young voters.
A Pheu Thai source said former party MP for Khon Kaen Preechapol Pongpanich, who served as a government whip in the Yingluck administration, is tipped to become party leader.
The source said that Mitti Tiyapairat, son of former parliament president Yongyuth Tiyapairat, is poised to take the role of party secretary-general. He has gained recognition for his management of Chiang Rai United FC as the club's president.
He said Ruephop Shinawatra, son of Payap Shinawatra, who is the brother of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is also widely speculated to become a party executive.
However, the source said some key Pheu Thai figures disagree with Thai Raksa Chart's formation as they believe these individuals lack political experience.
Former Pheu Thai MP for Phrae Worawat Ua-apinyakul has confirmed that he is defecting to the new party and will attend the meeting on Wednesday.
He also said there are enough Pheu Thai defectors to help the new party win the second-largest number of votes in the election.
Former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama, another rumoured recruit, said he has yet to make a decision.
The emergence of new parties is widely seen as part of Pheu Thai's strategy to capture all possible votes to increase the group's chances of forming the next government.
Prayuth Siripanich, a veteran Pheu Thai member supervising the northeastern region, said party members are divided over the strategy but differences are likely to be ironed out after the redrawing of constituencies is completed.
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