The Pheu Thai Party will today announce a bid with allies to form a coalition and claims it has successfully secured at least 251 MPs out of 500 giving it the right to form the country's next government.
The move comes although the party has yet to receive an answer from the Bhumjaithai Party -- considered a kingmaker in this election -- over whether it accepts Pheu Thai's invitation.
The invitation reportedly offers Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul the prime ministerial post in exchange for supporting Pheu Thai's bid to form a coalition government.
Pheu Thai sources said the party and its allies will announce the formation of a coalition government at a press conference at a hotel on Phetchaburi Road at 10am today.
Key figures in each party will attend the media briefing to show that the camp has gathered a simple majority of 251 House seats and has the legitimacy to form a government, the sources said.
The parties include the Future Forward Party (FFP), Seri Ruam Thai, Prachachat and Puea Chat, the source said.
With the backing of the FFP -- tipped to get 87 House seats -- as well as Seri Ruam Thai (11), Prachachat (6), Puea Chat (5), the New Economics Party (6), and Pheu Thai with 137 constituency seats, according to unofficial results and estimated party list numbers, the alliance can muster 252 seats altogether.
New Economics leader Mingkwan Saengsuwan yesterday posted on Facebook, reiterating his position that the party is in the pro-democracy camp and disagrees with the regime holding on to power.
However, analysts say the Election Commission will have to handle complaints about poll fraud.
The number of disqualified candidates will affect the number of constituency seats each party has won and will lead to a redistribution of seats.
The EC will have to officially endorse at least 95% of the constituency seats by May 9, after which the 150 party-list seats will be endorsed.
Responding to a report that Pheu Thai would offer the prime ministerial seat to Mr Anutin, Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the party is not clinging to any position, nor does it have any conditions.
The Pheu Thai secretary-general said two factors must be taken into consideration -- gathering the support of other parties to achieve a simple majority of at least 251 MPs to form a coalition government, and securing the 376 votes needed to win a prime ministerial vote by parliament.
The new coalition government would not be stable if either of the two conditions were not met, Mr Phumtham admitted.
Pheu Thai claimed it is justified in forming the government because the party won the election in terms of the number of MP seats.
However, the pro-military regime Palang Pracharath Party argues that it holds the right to form the next government because the party won the general election in terms of the number of popular votes.
According to official results after 94% of votes counted, Palang Pracharath gained 7.9 million votes while Pheu Thai received only 7.4 million.
Palang Pracharath Party secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong yesterday insisted it would gather enough House seats to form a coalition government and would definitely nominate Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to become the next prime minister.
"Everything is in progress and I am confident that [MPs'] votes will be gathered soon. Now let the talks continue first ... I admit that talks are being coordinated with other political parties," Mr Sontirat said.