Some 30,000 people welcomed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during his visit to Buri Ram on Monday but the man who galvanised many of the supporters was veteran politician Newin Chidchob.
While political analysts suspect there was more to the trip than just a mobile cabinet meeting upcountry, Mr Newin is seen as the key figure marshalling support for Gen Prayut in the region and helping him secure a stronger political base there should he decide to return as prime minister after next year's election.
Though Mr Newin announced years ago that he wanted to turn his back on politics and devote himself to working with his football club, Buri Ram United, a Pheu Thai source said he can help Gen Prayut and his associates achieve their goals in an unofficial capacity.
One such goal would be weakening the influence of the Pheu Thai Party in the Northeast, the source said.
Mr Newin is considered a master political strategist. His work with late prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa and two other former prime ministers -- Thaksin Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva -- have given him an impressive profile.
He is now in a position to support Gen Prayut by luring politicians to the military regime's fold by resorting to a range of tried-and-tested tactics, the source said.
Unlike Suwat Liptapanlop, chief adviser of the Chart Pattana Party, who can only garner support in his political stronghold of Nakhon Ratchasima, Mr Newin has greater potential given his rich experience, commanding personality and strong connections with fellow politicians.
The source said Mr Newin, a core member of the Bhumjaithai Party, could play a key role in helping the party run its election campaigns, with financial support from party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, also the boss of Sino-Thai Construction.
The Buri Ram-based party could tilt the regional balance in Gen Prayut's favour at the expense of Pheu Thai, the source said.
"If Mr Newin does the job, former MPs [in the Northeast] would face a dilemma," the source added, as they would have to decide whether to team up with Mr Newin or spurn his advances.
If Gen Prayut's supporters are unable to poach rivals then Mr Newin would be the man for the job, the source said.
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Mr Newin formerly helped Thaksin strengthen the respective support bases of two parties he was involved with -- namely Thai Rak Thai, which he led, and the People's Power Party, Thai Rak Thai's reincarnation that Thaksin led on a de facto basis following a political ban.
Known as a "kingmaker", he also helped Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva rise to the premiership.
However, the source warned that Gen Prayut should tread carefully when working with a controversial politician such as Mr Newin, who has shown he has few qualms about switching sides to suit the political tide.
The regime is also speculated to have approached other veteran politicians belonging to the Chon Buri-based Phalang Chon Party.
The source suggested they also may have the potential to outmanoeuvre Gen Prayut should push come to shove.
Former Pheu Thai MP for Lop Buri Amnuay Khlangpha also warned the premier against working alongside Mr Newin.
Mr Newin is particularly adroit at picking sides and throwing his support behind those who are either in power or most likely to succeed, he said.
However once that individual or party's star shifts to a descending trajectory, would Mr Newin stick around, he asked, citing what happened in the past with Thaksin and Mr Abhisit.
Chaiyan Ratchakun, a political scientist at the University of Phayao, said Gen Prayut's supporters seem to "overvalue Mr Newin".
"I don't think he has that many MPs in the palm of his hand. Maybe 20 at most," he said.
Former Democrat MP Issara Somchai also saw Mr Newin as a gamble.
