Concerns were heightened yesterday that the October 15 election will be delayed after the Senate appointed a subcommittee to check the backgrounds of the 10 Election Commission (EC) nominees.

It was unlikely the five successful candidates would be able to take office before the royal decree on the general election takes effect on August 24.

The Upper House yesterday debated how long the subcommittee should be given to complete its task. There were three options: 10 days, 20 days and 30 days.

Even though the Senate opted for the shortest period, 10 days, the panel is unlikely to finish its mission by Thursday of next week. Conse-quently, the new commissioners will have less time to prepare for the election, raising concerns they would probably have to postpone the poll.

Many politicians and some of the nominees have called for the election to be postponed to allow the new commissioners more time to prepare. However, the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party and Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa have opposed the idea.

After three hours of debating whether the Senate should appoint a panel of 22 members or the full Senate to check the backgrounds of the nominees, the Senate resolved to appoint 22 members for fear of creating more delays.

Most of the 22 are known to be pro-government and four are known to be independent - Sak Khosang-ruang, Nipattha Amorn-ratmetha, Thongbai Thongpao and Wallop Tangkananurak.

Six were also members of the panel that checked the background of nominees for the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) - Thongbai, Wallop, Prakiat Nasimma, Soonthon Jinda-in, Thaworn Kietchaiyakorn, Amorn Nilprame.

Outgoing Senate Speaker Su-chon Chaleekrua yesterday rejected outgoing Senator Somboon Thong-buran's request to have the Senate swear that they had not - and will not - accept kickbacks to form a bloc vote in the nomination of independent bodies.

Somboon had wanted the entire Senate to swear before the Emerald Buddha that they would not accept kickbacks to bloc vote for the nomination of the eight NCCC commissioners and the five EC commissioners.

Later, outgoing Senator Paiboon Upatising proposed Suchon lead the 200 Senators to pray before the picture of His Majesty the King in Parliament that whoever accepts kickbacks in the NCCC nomination will face severe consequences in their lives.

Suchon said it was not necessary because all senators had taken vows before assuming their posts. Paiboon insisted Suchon lead the Senate to swear again to end an allegation that 80 Senators had already accepted kickbacks.

Some senators laughed at Paiboon's proposal, making fun of him by saying that all 200 senators might come to a sticky end of they were all forced to swear again.

Outgoing Senator Manoonkrit Roopkachorn supported the move to have the Senate swear before the Emerald Buddha before nominating the NCCC commissioners and the EC commissioners, saying that the previous five EC commissioners had met a certain fate. One died, one quit in disgrace and three were jailed.

After almost an hour, Suchon allowed the Senate to vote on whether it should be exempt from Senate meeting regulations to pave way for a speedy and efficient conclusion. The vote was passed 150 to 6.

Somboon insisted yesterday there would be a bloc vote in the voting for NCCC commissioners. He claimed senators have received a list of seven candidates whom politicians want nominated.

He hit back at outgoing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who denied the bloc vote allegation, saying as the most powerful official, Thaksin must order an investigation into the allegation.