Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's chance of reclaiming the premiership seems to be on the upswing as several politicians from major rival political parties have hinted their willingness to back his bid to hold on to power.
In Thai politics, renegade politicians who jump ship to secure their political future as the election looms are known as ngu hao, which means "cobra".
The term was first coined by the late prime minister Samak Sundaravej in 1997.
As then leader of the Prachakorn Thai Party, he was enraged by the decision of 12 Prachakorn Thai MPs to support Chuan Leekpai's bid for the premiership instead of Gen Chatichai Choonhavan of the Chart Pattana Party, who was backed by Prachakorn Thai and its coalition partners.
A similar scenario is expected to occur after this Sunday's poll when parliament convenes to choose the new prime minister -- a process that will not be easy as no single party contesting this election is expected to win a simple majority.
As such, major parties are expected to begin maneuvering to ensure that they can form a core part of the next coalition government.
While the Democrat Party is predicted to trail behind the Pheu Thai Party, it is likely to play the crucial role of "king maker" in the fight for the country's top job.
Its leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, recently announced he will not support Gen Prayut regaining power -- however, he also ruled out cooperating with the Pheu Thai Party.
Without the Democrats' backing, the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) only has a slim chance of forming a solid government and guaranteeing the success of Gen Prayut's nomination as the next prime minister.
Still, political observers said it is likely that some "cobra'' politicians in both the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties will eventually vote for Gen Prayut to become prime minister after the election.
Under the constitution, MPs are allowed to vote for a prime minister in parliament independently of their parties' resolution, and are not required to comply with their parties' directives.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva recently admitted his stance on Gen Prayut's return to power after the poll was not a party directive, but his own opinion.
Asked about unity within the party, Mr Abhisit said he is not worried about "cobra" politicians in his party.
"I am not worried about "cobra" politicians, nor am I worried about getting enough seats to form a government," he said. "Let's focus on solving the country's problems."
Thaworn Senneam, a Democrat MP for Songkhla, told the Bangkok Post that if the Democrat Party wins enough seats to become the core member in the coalition government, all party MPs -- including himself -- will naturally vote for Mr Abhisit as prime minister.
But if not, the Democrat Party will have to come up with a resolution on who the party should support as prime minister.
"This is the party's standard practice," Mr Thaworn said.
A highly-placed Pheu Thai source told the Bangkok Post that MPs from rival parties are likely to turn "cobra" and support Gen Prayut as prime minister during a vote in parliament, as MPs are allowed a free vote under the constitution.
"If they are expelled from their parties for voting against party resolutions, they still have 30 days to join a new party," the source said.
It is natural for politicians to want to be a part of the government, and many are ready to vote against their own parties, the source added, before saying that most of these "cobra" politicians would probably claim that they are putting the country's interests before their party's.
Jatuporn Prompan, a member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, said on Wednesday that "cobra" politicians will definitely return -- and they are likely to come from the Democrat, Pheu Thai and Puea Chat parties.
Separately, the Election Commission on Wednesday reiterated that Gen Prayut's status as PPRP's prime ministerial candidate and serving PM is in line with the law and the constitution.
The EC made its remarks after Winyat Chatmontri, secretary-general of the United Lawyers for Rights and Liberty, called on the EC to disqualify Gen Prayut over concerns the premier failed to meet the prerequisites for candidacy as outlined under Section 14 of the law on elections.