He said that even though the big opposition parties were boycotting the election, Thai Rak Thai could not afford to ignore the smaller parties.

"This is an unusual situation because the major parties are not fielding candidates. But we shouldn't ignore the potential of the small parties," he said.

Every party has prestige and Thai Rak Thai did not need any help, Suranand said.

He expressed concern that turnout in the 131 constituencies in which only Thai Rak Thai candidates will stand would be less than 20 per cent, the minimum that must be garnered by unchallenged candidates. "We will campaign hard for people to vote," he said.

He believed the Election Commission should vigorously campaign for people to vote, because a less than 50-per-cent turnout put democracy at risk.

Agriculture Minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan also denied suggestions that the ruling party was paying small parties for their participation.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday said he was concerned that in 131 constituencies Thai Rak Thai candidates were unopposed. He encouraged voters to go to the polls.

Thaksin said Thai Rak Thai candidates would have to work hard in some southern constituencies that were power bases for the Democrat and Chat Thai parties. "I will visit some constituencies where the turnout is expected to be less than 20 per cent," he said.