The increase is especially noticeable in the North and Northeast, but there have also been some increases in party membership in the South, he said.

"We think the increase is partly due to the fact that people perceive that the Thai Rak Thai Party has been bullied," Aekaporn said, referring to the mass anti-Thaksin protests and calls for royal intervention to oust the prime minister, which eventually led to what Aekaporn called Thaksin's "temporary departure".

Aekaporn said the people still want Thai Rak Thai as their governing party, so that it can continue several of its policies. After a one-year period of political reform, new political parties will probably emerge with clear ideological stances, such as a socialist party or a green party, he said. However, Thai Rak Thai will reaffirm its bond with the people as the ultimate source of its policies, he said.

With more Thai Rak Thai MPs being elected in the South, the time is ripe for more southern members to be added to the party's executive board, the spokesman said.