In the aftermath of the Constitution Court's verdict that cancelled the April 2 election, "slave MPs" in the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party, who claim they are held captive to the 90-day rule, have discovered a ray of freedom - although amendments to the Constitution have yet to begin.

But as Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra and his party are still popular among the majority of voters, these so-called "slaves" are apparently willing to dump their objections and get ready for a new election campaign under the old regulations.

The court ruled that a new election would be held within 60 days of His Majesty the King endorsing a royal decree.

It comes at the time when the four Election Commission (EC) members have rejected the advice of the three top courts - the Constitution, Administrative and Supreme courts - to resign to make way for a "smoother and more credible election".

The courts sent a clear message the EC did not have the legitimacy to manage the new election because it violated the law by holding an "illegal poll" on April 2.

As the courts have vowed to use "every possible way" to resolve the national crisis, along with growing pressure for the commissioners' resignation by former opposition parties and the People's Alliance for Democracy, it is believed the fate of the four incumbents is sealed.

Under this premise, the Supreme Court claims it could intervene to fill the vacuum by nominating replacement candidates for the Senate to approve in the final selection process.

Under constitutional rules, the new EC selection will take at least 60 days, which gives the Thai Rak Thai MPs who are unhappy with Thaksin - including the Wang Nam Yom faction under Suriya Jungrungreangkit and Somsak Thepsuthin - a chance to move to other parties, despite the 90-day rule on party membership.

(As the law requires the EC to hold an election within 60 days of the House being dissolved, an MP who resigns from a party is disqualified from standing for another party if there is a sudden House dissolution and a new election held before his or her 90-day window has passed.)

With the 60 days needed for a new EC to be selected, and another 60 days added on to hold the next election, these so-called "slave MPs" suddenly have a chance to unshackle their chains and jump to another party after the royal decree is endorsed.

But an Abac Poll conducted a few days ago shows that the ruling party is still in the hearts and minds of most Bangkok voters, so the "slaves", apparently, are having second thoughts.

Among more than 1,600 people sampled, 42 per cent said they would vote for Thai Rak Thai while 16 per cent said they would support the Democrats.

This does not take into account the huge popularity of Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai among northern, northeastern and central constituencies.

As the party kicked of its new election campaign yesterday, the "slaves" have seemingly decided to join it. Whether the EC quits or not, they do not want to take the risk of ending up on the losing side.

Weerayut Chokchaimadon

The Nation