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Published on November 5, 2007

A party source claimed that military figures allied with the junta last week met with representatives from parties, excluding People Power Party, to discuss strategies to use

against the party. Former premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was persuaded to stay neutral ahead of the polls even though politicians close to him have joined People Power Party, according to the source. Chavalit was asked not to contest the election, the source said.

Earlier, Chat Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa reportedly met with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in London, where he has lived in exile since the military coup of September 2006. Banharn was offered the seat of prime minister in exchange for his party's alliance with People Power Party, it was reported.

People Power is confident of winning 18 to 20 seats in Bangkok after an informal survey of voters, a party source said.

The source said Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan asked former Bangkok MPs to ask city residents which party they would support in the December 23 election, and their findings showed that people trusted People Power.

Even though some former Bangkok MPs had left for other parties, they cannot win because People Power enjoys the most popularity, the source said.

"The strongest [voter] bases are Thon Buri and outer areas," he said. The source said the line-up of Bangkok candidates announced earlier had been changed and Nitipoom Navaratna's son Netipoom will now not be fielded as a candidate but given other work in the party.

The party-list candidates will be finalised tomorrow, he said.

Party spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said even if former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh insisted on not contesting the poll, his close aides would run as People Power candidates.

Kuthep yesterday also accused the Democrat Party, the major rivals to Power Party in the election, of being "selfish" for trying to create a permanent alliance with the Chat Thai Party.

"Chat Thai is now more open to work with other political parties, so the Democrats should not be so selfish in trying to prevent that," he said. "If we win the majority in the next election, the People Power Party is glad to form the government with other parties."

Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon yesterday insisted on an "unchanged relationship" between his party and Chat Thai. He said leaders of both parties would meet tomorrow to discuss cooperation after the election.

The Nation