Suthep also attacked Election Commission (EC) officials for saying the House could be reconvened with less than 500 MPs and that a third round of elections would not be needed. The commission had overstepped its role in making the comment, Suthep said.

"It is not their duty to comment on whether the House can reconvene. [The EC's] sole duty is to decide whether to organise more voting,'' he said.

Thai Rak Thai should not push for the House to be reopened with less than 500 MPs, Suthep said, because the election results show that the public disagrees with the decision to dissolve the House and perceive it as a bid to whitewash the government.

Dr Chamrat Sornpipat, head of the People's Alliance for Democracy in Trang, said people in the province voted against Thai Rak Thai in three constituencies because they did not want to give the party more House seats, fearing it would become even more dictatorial.

Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai Party deputy spokesman Jatuporn Prompan yesterday made a desperate plea to Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa to contest the election.

"Chat Thai should demand the Democrats change their minds and end their boycott of the election if they want to complete political reform,'' he said.