Party leaders upbeat at ballot drawing

The people will decide the outcome but regardless the voting results, his party will remain an ally of the Democrats and not team up with the People Power Party, he said.

"Society will never forgive me if I change my alliance," he said, adding that he will not speculate on his next move before seeing the votes.

He said his party's ballot No 13 is a lucking number.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was pleased with his party's ballot No 4 which is easy to remember.

Following the draw of ballot numbers, leading Democrats went to pay respects at the City Pillar and the Temple of Emerald Buddha to ask for blessings on campaign activities.

Pua Paendin Party leader Suwit Khunkitti said his party was fully prepared to resolve social divisions if elected with enough votes to join the coalition government.

People Power Party leader Samak Sundaravej said he was ready to lead the next government and that his first agenda would be to pardon the banned Thai Rak Thai Party executives in order to pave way for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return home from his London exile.

Samak also warned Banharn against making a hasty decision to rule out the PPPChat Thai alliance.

Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong said he would leave it up to voters to decide his party's fate.

"I am not concerned about my party's ballot number or how many seats to win," he said, though welcoming his party's ballot No 9 as a good omen.

Matchimathipatana Party got ballot No 1 and Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana Party was assigned ballot No 2. Some 18 parties participated in the ballot drawing on the first day of the candidacy registration for partylist candidates. The registration is expected to complete on Sunday.

The Nation