Earlier this month, more than 100 members resigned after Thaksin Shinawatra stepped down as party leader. The party became rudderless because no one wanted to lead until Chaturon Chaisang accepted the post.

"Party members feel heartened now because we have a leader, which gives us a clear direction in which to head," he said, adding many members, and some former MPs, were continuing to visit the party's headquarters.

He admired Chaturon, saying the new leader had a perspective that would benefit the party.

Jatuporn said communications were better within the party after Chaturon announced Thai Rak Thai was following what the Council for National Security (CNS) said, especially about not having any political movement and sticking to the reconciliation principle.

However, the party was engaged

in the political process, he said, add-ing it was forming a working group

to investigate the government, the Council of National Security (CNS) and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

Thai Rak Thai legal expert Vichit Plangsrisakul said although many members had left the party, many ordinary people had come to register as new members.

"It shows that we still have value even though we have a faced a crisis," said Vichit, adding the party's policies were the main reason people still paid attention to the Thai Rak Thai.

Vichit said the government and the CNS had improved the political situation, but as the NLA was not democratic because it had no opposition in the House, he said the Thai Rak Thai working group could act as an opposition (outside of Parliament).

He said the party had plans to form four groups to investigate the work of the government and other related organisations.

"The investigation is a part of a political party's duty. As long as Thai Rak Thai remains a party we have to monitor them," he said,

Vichit said he was a member of the legal working group. "We will examine the legislative body to see if it passes laws to benefit the country".

Party deputy leader Pongthep Thepkanchana and legal expert Chusak Sirinil were also members of the group.

Vichit declined to reveal other members saying the party would announce the working groups next month.

Party executive Ekaporn Rakkwam-suk said there were three factors causing optimism within the party: it now had an interim leader and executives, the coup was over, and now the party could see the political situation clearly.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation