"I have never persuaded Suwat to join the [Democrat] party. And as far as I know, he has not resigned from the Thai Rak Thai," said Suthep, after meeting Suwat at the Democrat Party headquarters before noon.

The meeting lasted about half an hour.

Suthep said Suwat called on him yesterday to extend an invitation to him, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, and party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai to take part in the cremation ceremony for Suwat's father on December 15.

Suwat heads a key faction in the Thai Rak Thai.

Suthep said yesterday he believed most of the Thai Rak Thai former MPs would wait to see a clear direction in politics before making any decision regarding their political future.

Wuthichai Sa-nguanwongchai, a former Thai Rak Thai MP for Chaiyaphum, has applied to become a Democrat member.

He said yesterday that he had opted to join the Democrat Party because it has become "the most institutionalised" among the Thai political parties.

Wuthichai said he had no knowledge if more former MPs from the Thai Rak Thai would follow suit.

Thepthai Senpong, a Democrat spokesman, said yesterday the party would consider applications from ex-MPs from other parties on a case-by-case basis. "But we don't welcome people who actively served the Thaksin regime and those who are antagonistic to democracy," he said.