Suchart Tancharoen on Friday led 30 politicians to join the Palang Pracharat Party and said he favours Prayut Chan-o-cha to continue in the premiership after a general election.
The former Chachoengsao MP said he defected from the Bhumjaithai Party because he liked Palang Pracharat's policy of support for the current military government's Eastern Economic Corridor development in eastern provinces.
He also favours Gen Prayut as Palang Pracharath's candidate for the prime ministership after the polls.
"I decided to be part of this new party with no conditions attached, because I do not have any legal cases to fight," said the veteran politician.
A group of Samut Prakan politicians led by former provincial administration organisation chairman Akkara Asavahame also applied for membership in Palang Pracharath in the belief it would develop the province.
The Asavahame family remains highly influential in Samut Prakan even though patriarch Vatana remains on the run from a corruption conviction related to the massive Klong Dan wastewater treatment plant scandal.