The upcoming election will give people a free hand to decide who they want to run the next government, which counters critics' arguments that the regime is out to prolong its grip on power, according to the young generation of Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) politicians.
Kraiserm Tohtubtiang, the second-generation heir to the Kwang Paisan packaged food empire, told the Bangkok Post he has never felt under pressure from "dictators" in the party since joining it.
The PPRP stands accused by critics of being a proxy for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and an instrument to secure Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's return to the premiership after the expected Feb 24 election.
The party counts many senior government stalwarts among its executives and is led by Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana with Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee serving as its deputy leader.
Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong is the party's secretary-general and Prime Minister's Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool was appointed as spokesman.
The party has also spelt out its intention to nominate Gen Prayut as its prime ministerial candidate.
Mr Kraiserm said the younger members including himself have been allowed to openly debate the party's leadership structure while obtaining first-hand input from people in the streets.
This input will form the basis for designing the party's policies which will be put to voters during the election campaign.
The policies will be debuted after the royal decree declaring an election date is announced.
"The party's executives, especially those who are concurrently cabinet ministers, have created an amicable atmosphere to work in. Every one of them is experienced and visionary. We have total confidence in them," Mr Kraiserm said.
"They are bound by a common goal of moving the country forward under democratic rule."
The fact the next election is happening at all speaks of the regime's intention to let people choose who they want to form the next government, said Narit Paranulaksa, a former lecturer of architecture at Chulalongkorn University and former editor-in-chief of Elle Men Thailand. "It's returning the power to the people," he said.
If the voters do not approve of the regime, that will be reflected in an election result which will keep it from retaining its grip on power, he said.
On the other hand, if enough votes are cast for the party, whoever the party has chosen as its candidate for prime minister is likely to take that job.
That means Gen Prayut, provided he agrees to be the PPRP's candidate premier, can stage a comeback as prime minister, according to Mr Narit.
Komson Thanachotipunt, the founder and managing director of the pharmaceutical firm Kress Pharma Co Ltd, says no single individual lays claim to ownership of the PPRP.
If the party had been dominated by hereditary politics, he would have been turned away since he is neither heir to any political scion nor a family member of poll canvassers, Mr Komson said.
"If the PPRP were manipulated by a single person, people like us would have wanted no part in it. One stands to lose a lot from politics," Mr Komsan said.
"Even if 5-10 of the party's younger politicians are elected, that will show there is light at the end of the tunnel."
He insisted that now is the time for the colour-coded politics that has torn the country apart to end.
"The PPRP should not be labelled as the tool of a dictatorship. Back in May 2014, the NCPO took over the administration to break the intense political impasse that had beset the country," said Mr Komson, who says he is not fond of dictatorship.
Satipaj Saiviwat, an expert in nanotechnology farming, said the PPRP has encouraged its members to explore ideas to adopt artificial intelligence in farm zoning to prevent an oversupply of crops, which depresses prices.
Strong farming brands should be promoted so crops can be marketed as premium tourist items and developed on commercial scale, like in Japan.
Meanwhile, Thanikarn Pornpongsaroj, founder and managing director of Tanika Gallery, said PPRP members have worked hard to formulate policies including job creation and making people financially self-sufficient.
Once the party unveils its policies, she was sure people would accept them.
Rattchayutt Roongjarupun, owner of a wooden furniture store and interior decoration business, said the party's support of welfare programmes was not meant to win votes.
The schemes such as the welfare cards for the poor were being revised to cater to the needs of the people who need them the most.
However, he said the government's welfare schemes are not the same as the PPRP's. The government's schemes will only ease people's hardship in the short term, he said. "We're not going to spoil the people, as alleged by some critics," he said.
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