The general election scheduled for October 15 might be postponed by up to two weeks if necessary, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

He said that if all relevant parties tried to hold the election on October 15 but it proved impossible, the election would have to be delayed - by between five days and two weeks.

"If it is necessary, we have to propose a new date for Royal endorsement, but we have to look at the legal points to not break the law because the Royal Decree states that the election must be held within 60 days after the decree goes into effect,'' he said.

Thaksin also denied that Thai Rak Thai Party was opposing the selection of former Senator Kaewsan Atibodhi and former judge Nam Yimyaem as members of the new Election Commission.

"What does the Thai Rak Thai have to do with it? We do not have any MPs in the House," he said.

Thaksin warned independent bodies against abusing their authority in trying to push for changes, saying such a scenario was dangerous to democracy. "Whoever is in government, they are from the people. If everyone joins hands, democracy will not go backwards,'' he said.

Meanwhile, a source said that caretaker Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua had pressed caretaker Senator Sunthorn Chindamani who chairs the panel undertaking background checks on the 10 EC nominees, to complete the checks before August 30 so the election can be organised in time.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said the Thai Rak Thai Party was ready if the poll was postponed.

"If the nomination of the EC is completed, the EC must announce if they can organise the election on October 15. If it's not ready, the EC must also announce what date it will organise the election on,'' he said.

He said the EC should hold the election as soon as possible as the country had lacked a proper government for more than eight months. Delaying the election would affect government budgeting, people's and investors' confidence, as well as political stability.