Ekkaporn Rakkhwamsuk, spokesman for the Thai Rak Thai election centre, blamed the former opposition parties - Democrat, Chat Thai and Mahachon - for the acts and called them and the People's Alliance for Democracy a danger to democracy.

"Whoever supports the tearing [of ballot papers] is mentally ill. If we let them continue doing this, it will be dangerous to the parliament," he told a press conference yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Songkhla election authorities yesterday filed additional complaints against eight voters who tore up their ballot papers on Sunday.

Songkhla recorded the highest number of voters who tore up their ballots with eight. However, even though they were taken to a local police station to be charged on polling day, the provincial election officials yesterday filed additional accusations against them.

There were nearly 20 instances of ballot papers being destroyed in the by-elections in mostly southern constituencies on Sunday.

Ekkaporn said the opposition parties were not only boycotting the election but also trying to make trouble by inciting people to break the law.

"The newly elected senators in the South have to explain to the people so that they understand the [importance of] elections," he said.

Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Jatuporn Promphant said the tearing of ballots by academics should be condemned because it was not the act of an intelligent person.

Reacting to the party's statement, a member of the PAD in the South, Ekkachai Issarata, said the ruling party was looking down on the people.

"People's intent in tearing up the ballots was to protest against illegitimate power," he said.