"I am busy reviewing reports on senatorial campaign violations, although the review against the ruling party should be completed before the next election," he said.

Vasana said the EC had yet to complete its review of the Nam Yimyaem report into Thai Rak Thai before he could decide whether to file charges or to summon additional testimony.

The Nam report, completed on May 8, recommended that the EC hold caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra culpable for the funding of small parties, an offence punishable by party dissolution.

Last week Vasana told the investigative panel to gather additional evidence by summoning ruling party executives to testify in defence.

Nam, a retired Supreme Court vice president who led the panel, countered that the EC should be responsible for gathering additional evidence it deemed necessary as his investigation was complete.

The two met yesterday but Vasana refused to disclose the details.

In regard to tomorrow's court ruling on whether to try the commission for dereliction of duty stemming from the botched April 2 vote, a chief judge said the court was empowered to make such a ruling because the EC had no immunity from prosecution.

Prapan Sapsaeng, chief judge of the Supreme Court's Tribunal for Political Office Holders, said the EC was granted immunity in the pre-trial proceedings before the polls but not at the trial.

Article 148 of the Constitution bans the summoning and detention of EC members for interrogation while they are managing the polls. This ban does not extend to the judicial review, Prapan said.