The source, who asked not to be named, said on Monday that the politicians were considering whether to defect to the Palang Pracha Rath Party, which is believed to support Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha for his possible return to power after the next general election.

Most of the ex-MPs and senators are from the northeastern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Amnat Charoen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Bueng Kan, Yasothon, Udon Thani and Chaiyaphum, according to the source, while at least two are from the North – one from Chiang Rai and another from Mae Hong Son.

They are from a number of parties, including Bhum Jai Thai and the previously ruling Pheu Thai, which won most of its MP seats from the North and Northeast in earlier elections.

Pirom Pholwiset, a former Bhum Jai Thai MP for Nakhon Ratchasima who is expected to defect to the pro-junta party, said on Monday that he was going to join a new party that had a good strategy for solving the country’s problems and developing the country.

“The party does not rely on political financiers, unlike in the past,” the politician said, alluding to Palang Pracha Rath although he did not identify the party in question.

“I believe this party will certainly provide hope and can be relied on by the Thai people,” he added.

He said the military coup in May 2014 had caused “severe damage to the country and wasted a lot of state budget while causing the most suffering to the people”.

Watana blamed what he called “inefficient management by retired military officers who want to have power but lack intelligence”.

The outspoken politician said in his latest Facebook message attacking the ruling junta that an “important mission” after the next election was to restore democracy and reform the armed forces.

“The goal is to prevent anyone from using the armed forces to destroy democracy again. More importantly, coup-makers must be punished for causing damage to the country,” he said.

Watana said the prosecution would not be revenge, but rather an attempt to “end a vicious cycle and restore the rule of law”.

In his message headlined “Dictators must be brought to court”, the politician said the election results in Malaysia last week should be a lesson to Thais.

“Malaysia and developed countries prove that democracy can solve every problem,” he added.

His latest message seemed to be inspired by Malaysia’s newly elected prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, who made a remark about his corruption-tainted predecessor Najib Razak after his stunning poll victory.

When asked if Najib would be prosecuted, Mahathir said: “If anybody breaks the law, they will be brought before the court.”

Watana last week was brought before the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders for alleged malfeasance and bribery.

The case is in connection with the Ua Athon housing project for low-income earners, which was started in 2005 by the National Housing Authority.

At that time, Watana was serving as minister of social development and human security in charge of the agency during a Thaksin Shinawatra government.

Her funeral rites will take place from Tuesday, with the cremation set for May 24.

According to a close family member, Pimpa was rushed to a nearby hospital on Sunday after complaining of heaviness in the chest.

Found to be suffering cardiac arrest, she was resuscitated and referred to the Central Chest Institute where she was diagnosed with coronary artery disease and received treatment, the source said.

However, Pimpa yesterday succumbed to kidney failure due to poor blood circulation after the cardiac arrest.

Pimpa was born on August 16, 1953. She graduated from Krirk University and was married to Thawin Chanprasong, also a former minister and Nonthaburi MP, who had passed away earlier.

Pimpa entered politics in 1992, seeking parliamentary election under the Kwam Wang Mai Party banner before reaching the peak of her career when she was appointed minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office in Chuan Leekpai’s administration.

As a member of the executive board of the Thai Rak Thai Party in 2007, Pimpa was banned from politics for five years. When Thai Rak Thai was dissolved in 2013, Pimpa joined the Democrat Party and had remained a member ever since.