The emergence of the so-called "middle-path" parties in the lead-up to the next general election could play a significant role in deciding which major player can muster enough support to form the next government, critics have said.
However, these swing parties themselves will be put to a crucial test in the next polls as they fight tooth and nail to prove their relevance both in Thai politics and to sceptical voters.
The parties in focus are the likes of Thai Sang Thai, Sang Anakhot Thai and Chartpattanakla.
Despite being newly registered, the parties are home to familiar faces, as many of these politicians broke away from major parties to establish their own.
Shifting pieces
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan left the Pheu Thai Party to found and lead the Thai Sang Thai Party (TSTP).
The Sang Anakhot Thai Party (SATP), meanwhile, marks the return to politics of at least two prominent members of the See Gumarn (Four Boys) clique who once ruled the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP).
See Gumarn counted some key political luminaries among its ranks: former finance minister Uttama Savanayana who served as the first PPRP leader; former energy minister Sontirat Sontijirawong, former higher eduction, science, research and innovation minister Suvit Maesincee; and former prime minister's office minister, Kobsak Pootrakul.
Intense power struggles in the PPRP saw the clique bow out of the ruling party.
The election date has been tentatively set for May 7 next year by the Election Commission, which has launched an unofficial countdown to the polls. Since then the SATP named Mr Uttama its leader and Mr Sontirat secretary-general.
The party has pledged to nominate former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who previously headed the government's economic team, as its prime ministerial candidate.
The Chartpattanakla Party (CPKP), meanwhile, is the product of a merger between the Chart Pattana and the Kla parties.
The new party has entrusted Korn Chatikavanij, a former finance minister in the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, as its leader with the objective of capitalising on Mr Korn's expertise in formulating policies that would appeal to voters hoping for a revitalised economy.
The middle-path parties have so far shown little commitment to existing alliances led on the one side by the PPRP and the other by the main opposition Pheu Thai Party.
But it may be a matter of time before such positions emerge when the time comes for parties to jockey for support to set up a government.
Political experts say how the middle-path parties position themselves will be interesting, given the entrenched political divisions.
Middle path wilts in conflict
However, Wanwichit Boonprong, a political scientist at Rangsit University, argued that a middle path has no place in bitterly polarised politics where many voters would favour their blocs (headed either by the PPRP or the Pheu Thai) to score a decisive victory at the election and win an outright majority to govern.
The academic said the middle path parties came into being as their founders could not stay with their previous parties, and so chose to break away to create new parties to ratchet up their bargaining power and give them a new lease of political life.
"These parties tend to be run by a prominent figure or have means. But they are not likely able to get many members elected.
"They are driven by a desire to rebrand themselves, to carve out a niche of self-proclaimed neutrality as swing parties," he said.
Mr Wanwichit said he has yet to find a party which can live up to its ideology of being politically neutral. All, so far, are old wine in new bottles, invented to serve self-interest.
In the next elections, small and medium-sized parties will do little more than choose sides, sit back and watch which bloc races to the finishing line and clinches a House majority first.
Mr Wanwichit said the speculated merger between the TSTP and the SATP may not materialise so easily. Khunying Sudarat and Mr Somkid were far apart in leadership styles, which may stand in the way of effective management of a party.
"But it's different with the CPKP which is a small party. The two former parties which came together each brought a vital quality the other lacked.
"One party (the Chart Pattana) was looking to tap into younger voters while the other (the Kla) wanted support in the constituencies," he said.
Bargaining power
Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political science lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, agreed that by sitting on the fence, these parties were knowingly driving up their bargaining power as they position themselves so, whatever happens when voters go to the polls, they have the ability to swing both ways.
This is true of the micro-parties which will suffer a disadvantage under the dual-ballot election system where votes for their constituency candidates who fail to get elected will not be counted towards a list party candidate, as they were at the 2019 polls, he said.
But he did not think small and medium-sized parties would enjoy significant negotiating power as the election method has shifted the advantage in favour of bigger parties.
Mr Yutthaporn said the middle-path parties may not be able to pull off the stunt of reconciling differences between people at either political extreme.
He cited the example of divisions over the standup comedy Deaw 13, filmed in August, which was the talk of the town when it was released for streaming on Netflix last week. In the show, comedian, Udom "Nose" Taepanich takes several shots at Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and some of his supporters were not amused by the antics.
The recent assault on activist Srisuwan Janya by a red-shirt leader also split opinion with one side decrying the act of violence and other backing the attacker and donating money for him to fight the legal case which will ensue. The opposing views were expressed mostly by people locking horns in political conflict.
Jigsaw pieces
Olarn Tinbangtiew, a lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science and Law, Burapha University, said the restored dual-ballot system is motivating small parties so they can grow into medium-sized ones in their quest to be the vital piece of the jigsaw needed by bigger parties to obtain a House majority and putting together a government.
In his view, no party is likely to score a landslide win while Bhumjaithai, now the second largest coalition party, is poised to expand from a medium-sized party to a major player.
Bhumjaithai captured 51 MP seats at the 2019 elections and has since gained more than 10 additional seats mostly through MP defections.
TSTP upbeat
Meanwhile, Torpong Chaiyasarn, a TSTP deputy leader, said his party was ready for battle. It plans to field candidates in constituencies nationwide.
The party aims to win around 50 seats: 10% of 400 seats at stake in the constituencies and 10% of 100 MPs in the list system.
He admitted the party needs more time to heighten its profile with voters although it is relatively well-received.
''The TSTP positions itself as a middle-path party because people can feel more at ease with its ideology,'' he said, adding voters who the party has met in various constituencies were comfortable with parties which do not pander to political or social conflict.
He said the party has been touring constituencies and returned to Bangkok feeling confident that it can give the Pheu Thai a run for its money in about 20 provinces in the Northeast, which are the traditional turf of the main opposition party.
The TSTP also expects it will fare well in at least six constituencies in Chiang Mai. It is also gaining grounds in other regions.
In Bangkok, Khunying Sudarat remains popular. However, the party cannot afford to be complacent because it's a fiercely-fought battleground.
On the subject of a merger with the SATP, Mr Torpong said senior figures in both parties have been in talks over the issue.
He admitted the move might run into hurdles if one party had to cease to exist in order to join another. But the model of the CPKP where two parties merge into each other, and not one into another, might work.
At the end of the day, the party must listen to its members before taking such a critical decision. The TSTP currently has 60,000 registered members.
CPKP realistic
Atavit Suwanpakdee, a CPKP deputy leader, said the party has presented itself as new choice for voters. It prioritises reforming the country's economic framework, a task which relies on the work of new-generation specialists.
The Kla was driven by younger-generation members while Chart Pattana had built itself on a solid foundation created by experienced politicians and former cabinet ministers, such as Mr Korn, Korbsak Sabhavasu, Col Winai Sompong, Suwat Liptapanlop and Tewan Liptapanlop.
The union of the two generations of members can turn a new page on politics and the economy, Mr Atavit said, adding the CPKP politicians can reach out to other parties.
He said the CPKP has hit the ground running in many constituencies. However, the party will not send candidates to stand in all constituencies.
"We're living in a real world where we will compete in constituencies with a strong support base," he said.
SATP's economic expertise
Nipit Intharasombat, a SATP deputy leader, said the party will vie for consituency seats nationwide. Its target of winning seats will depend on its following.
Mr Somkid is a big source of the party's strength, given his economic expertise. Mr Nipit said he was confident Mr Somkid would be able to solve the economic malaise in the country.
Mr Nipit also denied a merger with the TSTP was taking shape. "We haven't discussed it. Our party was founded on the assumption that we will not combine with anyone," he said.
The SATP is clear in its policy to tackle economic problems and not be a party to social or political division.
"Some might claim to be a middle-path party although economics is not their forte. Other parties advertise themselves as being economics-savvy while being extreme," Mr Nipit said.
The SATP will also mull over whether to nominate Mr Uttama as another prime ministerial candidate alongside Mr Somkid.
