The Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) will back Thaksin Shinawatra to be the next prime minister in the April election, a party executive said yesterday.

Suranand Vejjajiva, speaking after the party's executive meeting, said members would draft a campaign strategy tomorrow afternoon.

Lists of possible candidates had already been sent to party executives for verification, he said.

Thaksin will finalise the party-list candidates and the party's secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit will direct the party's election centre, he said.

The party would stick with the same policies it ran on in last year's election to allow it to continue its good work, he said.

Bhokin Bhalakula will oversee Constitutional and legal issues while Somkid Jatusripitak will be in charge of economic policies, Suranand said.

Voters would side with the government when they heard its response to the allegations of its critics, he added. Suranand also said Bangkok candidates were worried initially but after visiting their constituents felt relieved because they found them quite receptive to explanations.

He said the party was confident it would be able to form a government for another term as it had a capable leader, five years of achievements and candidates who had worked hard in their constituencies.

Deputy TRT leader and head of the party's campaign in the North, Somsak Thepsuthin, predicted that all the northern TRT candidates would be re-elected.

Buri Ram MP Sophon Phetsawang, leader of the Wang Nam Yom faction, said he was not worried about the election because billboards would list the administration's achievements and clarify the Shin Corp share sale.

Sophon added he was confident the party would retake all its seats in the Northeast.

Kesinee Jaikawang,

Samatcha Hoonsara

The Nation