Politicians have brushed aside speculation about the regime setting up a political party, saying they believe such a new party would find it difficult to compete in politics with long-established parties like the two major ones -- the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties.
On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said Monday the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would form a political party if it thought it necessary, but it is not needed right now.
He was responding to reporters seeking to confirm whether the NCPO would set up a party and enter the political arena.
- Prawit sidesteps: Military-led party 'possible'
"Why must I give confirmation? The NCPO will not be involved in politics. But if it is necessary, it will be set up. If it is not, it will not be set up," Gen Prawit said.
Asked again if it was necessary, Gen Prawit quickly replied that it had not been necessary so far, and he had no idea if a political party would be established.
Asked if anyone from the NCPO had quietly set up a political party, Gen Prawit said no one had done so.
He also insisted he did not meet with politicians to discuss future political affairs, accusing the mass media of wrongly reporting his comments.
Reporters asked if Maj Gen Songklod Tiprat had formed a party to help the NCPO prolong its hold on power. In response, Gen Prawit said he did not know anything about a new party or Maj Gen Songklod.
Maj Gen Songklod denied rumours that he might set up a new political party to support the NCPO. He said he had not registered any new party with the Election Commission (EC).
Maj Gen Songklod said he was formerly a member of an NCPO committee preparing for national reform. After completing his work on the committee, he continued to receive complaints from people across the country and he relayed the complaints to the NCPO, Maj Gen Songklod said.
Local media had earlier reported Maj Gen Songklod planned to set up a new political party, namely the Palang Chart Thai Party, which would welcome former members of more than 10 other parties.
The new party was said to be focused on solving bread-and-butter issues of the people.
Last month Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said a general election would take place in November next year and that he would announce the date in June.
However, political observers believe the NCPO is now moving towards forming a party of its own, which has been met with mixed reactions.
Thaworn Senneam, a former Democrat Party MP, threw his support behind Prime Minister Prayut setting up a party after lifting political restrictions.
Even though Gen Prayut may not run in the election himself, such a party would allow him and the NCPO to make their first foray into the democratic arena openly and legitimately, Mr Thaworn said.
"Most importantly, he can declare he will engage in politics openly, even though he will not run as a candidate and may choose to become a non-elected outsider prime minister.
"But it will be even better if he contests the polls himself. He may try it when the time comes. Don't underestimate him because his recent popularity ratings have still been high," said Mr Thaworn, who was a former key figure of the now-defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva declined to comment on whether the NCPO is likely to set up a political party. There was no confirmation so far, Mr Abhisit said, adding he was not excited about the prospect.
Former Pheu Thai Party MP Amnuay Klangpha said that while the NCPO may want to prolong its hold on power after the election, he did not think it will go as far as forming its own party.
This is because there are more than 60 small- and medium-sized political parties that are willing to work with the NCPO, and the NCPO can use them to cling on to power.
"They have several small parties that will do their bidding, so it is unlikely they will set up their own one," Mr Amnuay said.
He also noted the regime would not want to repeat the mistake of former army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who staged the coup that ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 and went on to become chairman of the Matubhum Party, which won only two House seats in the 2011 general election.
Veera Somkwamkid, leader of the People's Rights and Freedom Protection Group, claimed Gen Prawit had Maj Gen Songklod set up a political party named Palang Chart Thai to support Gen Prayut in becoming prime minister after the next election.
Mr Veera also said that after Gen Prayut lifts restrictions on political activities, he may make a last-minute decision to set up another party.
Somchai Sawaengkarn, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, said if the NCPO forms a party to maintain its hold on power, it may end in failure like other "ad-hoc" parties set up by the military in the past.
Meanwhile, EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said the commission will meet Tuesday to discuss the possibility of announcing regulations relating to the Political Parties Act which took effect on Oct 8.
However, Mr Supachai said the EC will consider the matter carefully because problems may arise if such an announcement is not consistent with the NCPO's political ban.
The move comes after Mr Abhisit urged the EC to announce the regulations after there were no signs the NCPO would lift the ban on political activities.