"The local people are worried about the prime minister's safety after the assassination attempt failed," said Prasang Mongkonsiri, a former MP who is preparing to re-run in Uthai Thani.

Although local people would love to see the prime minister visit the province, they prefer not to put him at risk because it would be hard to distinguish between his supporters and his opponents, Prasang said.

Prasang believed that halting Thaksin's visit would not have an impact on the party's popularity in the constituency.

"The premier and his party have been in their hearts for five years since assuming power," he said. "They have no love for other parties."

Suchart Srisang, a former MP for Maha Sarakham, believed the cancellation of Thaksin's visits would affect only potential candidates whose personal popularity was trailing.

"If the premier cancelled all his provincial tours, those candidates could lose to their contenders," he said.

Wattana Sengpairoh, a former Bangkok MP, said the incident would not affect the party's popularity nationwide because voters had backed him through the ongoing political crisis.

Instead, local people would have more sympathy for Thaksin, which could be turned to be

more votes for Thai Rak Thai, he said.

Pairoj Suwanchawee, a former party-list MP, said potential candidates in northern and northeastern constituencies would need to work harder to replace the absence of Thaksin's tours because he was a symbol of the party's campaigns nationwide.

Meanwhile, a group of 40 leading Thai Rak Thai members met Thaksin at Government House yesterday afternoon to show they still backed him.

Wichit Plangsrisakul, a legal specialist, said the group was concerned for Thaksin's safety.

Thaksin had told them that, after the failed plot, he would take warnings from his intelligence units more seriously, Wichit said.