A former secretary-general of the defunct Palang Dharma party, physician Rawee Machamadon, on Thursday announced the formation of the New Palang Dhamma Party, and backing Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as the next prime minister.
Dr Rawee, 65, a native of Roi Et province, presented executive members of the new party at a media conference at a Bangkok hotel.
He said the membership included former members and MPs from other political parties, including Mahachon, New Aspiration and the original Palang Dharma. Supporters of the political pressure group the People's Democratic Reform Committee had also joined.
"It brings good people from all over the country together for true national reform so that Thailand will be free from crises," Dr Rawee said.
New Palang Dhamma would maintain the honesty and transparency of the old Palang Dharma party which was folded a decade ago and would work for fair democratic rule and reduction of inequality, he said.
For the coming general election, his party would nominate three candidates to be prime minister, as required, and he would be among them.
His party would not reject Gen Prayut, the present prime minister and chief of the National Council for Peace and Order, if Gen Prayut were to be nominated for the job, Dr Rawee said.
He also said that Gen Chamlong Srimuang, former leader of the Palang Dharma party, would not join the new party because he had quit politics.