PAD spokesman Assoc Professor Kriangsak Liewchanpattana said the group would fight to remove "Thaksinomics" by campaigning against the second round of voting.

"We will carry out our duty to protect our political rights.

We want the ballot papers to be torn up to show the Election Commission [EC] that Songkhla people know what is right and wrong,'' he said.

The protest is a response to the EC's order allowing new MP candidates to register in the provincial elections.

Three election directors in the province resigned following the order, citing "public pressure" as the reason for the resignations.

The Songkhla provincial election commission also disqualified four MP candidates - Juang Jitrawong and Prasit Musikkasem from the Better Life Party, Kesinee Petwong from Khonkhoplodnee Party, and Khadari Binsen from the Thai Chuay Thai Party.

Narathiwat provincial election commissioner Wichien Sunthornnont denied election officials in that province had resigned due to public pressure. He said security would be stepped up at polling stations to boost the morale of election officials.

Internal Security Commander deputy director General Pallop Pinmanee allayed fears regarding the PAD campaign to tear up ballots, saying he did not think that many voters would dare to do it because it was an offence.

Pallop said he was still on friendly terms with PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang.