Sam Mitr (Three Allies) group has yet to decide whether or not to merge with pro-regime Phalang Pracharat Party in the coming general election, said the group’s secretary Pirom Polwiset.

The group is seen as the regime’s election candidate recruiting arm and believed to have close ties with Phalang Pracharat.

Phalang Pracharat is a new party known to be affiliated with the military regime and believed to have been set up to back Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should he decide to reclaim the premiership after the election.

The group has yet to come to any conclusion on the possible merger with the party as it still has some major issues to resolve including overlapping in certain constituencies election candidates in the groups intend to compete in and those of Phalang Pracharat’s candidates, he said.

A large number of former MPs and new candidates intend to run in the race under the group’s banner, particularly in the northeastern constituencies, he said.

Furthermore, he said, the group had already drafted its election policy based on information compiled through previous visits and interviews with voters across the country, which the group aims to push to make a new national development master plan.

Phalang Pracharat would have to agree to adopt the group’s policy if the party wants the group to work  with it in the coming election, he said.

In related news, Suraboth Leekpai, 30, son of former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, has affirmed his plan to become a new member of Democrat Party and run in the next election.