Progressive Movement chairman Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit was conspicuous by his absence from the political scene until recent controversies erupted over his vaccination record and a work of art.
The Palang Pracharath Party's (PPRP) failure to capture two House seats in Sunday's by-elections in Chumphon and Songkhla has prompted questions over whether the ruling party, which only just recently made inroads with voters in the South, is on the way out of government.
Next year is looking increasingly certain to be an eventful one on the political front as more credible signs are pointing to an early election sometime in the middle of 2022.