The Election Commission has sanctioned 50 political parties, including newly-formed Thai Khemkaeng, but there is no evidence to confirm or deny the linkage of the new party to the Democrats, EC member Sodsri Satayatham said on Tuesday.
"I am not in the position to speculate whether the newly-formed party is meant as a back-up in case the Democrat Party is disbanded," she said.
Sodsri said the registration for Thai Khemkaeng has completed, pending the announcement in the Royal Gazette.
The new party, registered on June 4, has its headquarters located in Hat Yai, Songkhla. Manat Panich is the party leader and Prathan Phrom-on is the party secretary general. The party has yet to hold its first convention within one year to elect its executive board.
Another new party Thai Pheu Thai has activated its registration process last week. And the EC already gave the green light to carry on the registration to completion even though the party's name is very similar to the opposition Pheu Thai Party.
Thai Pheu Thai has Sathit Rodchang as its leader and Thongchai Thatkheo as its secretary general.
Manas conceded on Tuesday he was close to the Democrats but the new party was formed out of his love for politics without any linkage to the party dissolution case.
"In the future, should their party be disbanded, I don't think it would be unusual if the Democrats want to move to my party," he said.
Manas said in case of party disbandment, the Democrats would have no choice but to adopt a new political home.
He said he wanted to build his new party based on his stronghold in Hat Yat where he runs a contruction business.