The Chartthaipattana Party (CTP) yesterday welcomed new members from various parties as it chose Kanchana Silpa-archa, daughter of late prime minister and party leader Banharn, to take the helm and lead the party into the general election.
Among the newcomers were Anucha Sasomsap whose family wields much influence in Nakhon Pathom, Prachak Klawklahan and his wife who defected from the Bhumjaithai Party, and Anusorn Kraiwatnusorn, former MP for Samut Sakhon under the now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party.
Phadermchai Sasomsap, the former labour minister in Yingluck Shinawatra's Pheu Thai government, also joined the party but he did not attend yesterday's meeting.
A group of 15 former politicians from the Matubhum Party also applied to join. Matubhum Party leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin turned up with them but he has yet to apply.
Gen Sonthi said yesterday he would have to wait until the Matubhum Party dissolution process is finalised before joining the Chartthaipattana Party.
It is reported that the Matubhum Party, in its letter to the Election Commission early this year, said no party members confirmed their status, which left Gen Sonthi as the sole official member.
A party is subject to being disbanded if it fails to comply with the organic law governing political parties.
Gen Sonthi said yesterday he was attracted by Chartthaipattana's policy of reconciliation and expressed confidence that the ex-Matubhum members would help Chartthaipattana win House seats in the southern region.
Most of the former Matubhum members joining the Chartthaipattana Party are based in the deep South and some districts of Songkhla.
After being chosen as the party leader, Ms Kanchana said the decision showed members wanted old and new politicians to work together and she was well-positioned, being between the two generations, to lead them.
She welcomed the new members, saying politicians from other political groups would expand the party's political footprint.
However, Ms Kanchana declined to say if the Chartthaipattana Party would field candidates in all constituencies, or who it would support as the next prime minister. She said she would discuss these matters with members of the party executive.
She also said that the party would follow her late father's approach of avoiding conflict.
Ms Kanchana was selected the party leader unopposed after Teera Wongsamut, who was nominated by Paradorn Prissananantakul, withdrew from the race.
She was nominated by former MP for Roi Et Anurak Jureemas.
"When it comes to selecting a party leader, seniority or youth shouldn't be the focus, it should be about courage and ability," Mr Teera told the meeting and urged them to work together to help the party fulfil its goals.
Key executive posts filled included Prapat Photasuthon's appointment as secretary-general and Mr Anurak and Mr Anucha as deputies to the party leader.
The party also appointed four executives and seven members to serve on a committee responsible for screening election candidates.