Politicians defecting from large parties could consolidate into a coalition large enough to combine forces with a regime-backed party to form the next government, according to a source in the newly-established Thai Citizen Power Party (TCP).
The TCP announced Sunday it has satisfied registration requirements under the new political parties law with more than 500 members under its belt.
The party has named Samphan Lertnuwat as its leader and Ekkaporn Rakwamsuk as secretary-general. They are among 35 party executives.
Most of the executives broke away from the Pheu Thai Party and some were previously members of the Pheu Thai's predecessors -- the Thai Rak Thai and the People's Power parties.
Mr Samphan said the party has three pillar policies: to uphold the monarchy, forge national reconciliation and reduce the gap between rich and poor.
Mr Samphan insisted the TCP does not object to any particular party becoming the next government after an election expected by February next year. The TCP will decide after the poll what party it will support to be the core in forming the next government.
It is normal for members of existing parties to defect and establish new ones, he said, adding he had done so many times in the past.
Mr Saphan said it is not right to describe defectors as being "sucked into" new parties. Any new party would want to win as many seats as possible, which is why it taps experienced former MPs who stand a better chance of election than new faces.
He was referring to reports of several former MPs being lured into a new political party backed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Some former MPs leave a party for various reasons, and for his political group, he said the members saw brighter opportunities in a new party.
The TCP source expected many new parties to compete in the poll. One of them is the Pracharath Party, which is thought to be a pro-regime party and could emerge as the core party to set up the next government.
The source said Pheu Thai and the Democrats are most likely to retain their spots as the two biggest parties.
However, it is the third to fifth largest parties, possibly including Pracharath, which may ultimately band together to form the administration, providing they can pick up more than 250 of the 500 MP seats between them in the poll.
Pracharath would not need to "solicit" so many former MPs to boost its chances of putting together a government and has cautioned that wooing too many politicians, such as those from Phalang Chon and the Bhumjaithai Party, might backfire as some voters loyal to these parties may not want to support the military.
The source added that the NCPO will probably permit the local administrative organisation (LAO) polls to be conducted before the general election.
But before these can go ahead, the laws governing local polls will be amended which could increase the odds of a pro-military party leading the next government.
These amendments have raised concerns that they might make the LAOs prone to political interference by the current government through an indirect election of local LAO members who wield influence over voters.
