Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, in his capacity as Bhum Jai Thai leader, said he planned to appoint Newin as "the party's principal" so his political expertise could strengthen the party.

"I believe that Newin will be able to help the party a lot. We are a new political party. He will be particularly useful for our preparation for a new general election," Chaovarat said.

Newin was on Monday acquitted by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders in a case involving a controversial rub?ber-sapling project he initiated while serving in the Thaksin Shinawatra government. All 43 other defendants in the case were also found not guilty.

He is one of the 111 former executives of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party stripped of electoral rights for five years on the charges of electoral fraud.

Meanwhile, another Bhum Jai Thai executive, Sophon Saram, who is the transport minister, said that with the acquittal, the party would be able to continue work without concern about legal trouble against a key party figure.

However, Sophon said he didn't think the party would have increased bargaining power as a result of the court verdict.

"When Bhum Jai Thai gets stronger, the government also becomes stronger. There's noth?ing about bargaining," he said.