The ruling party will not allow any undemocratic influence to derail the general election - tentatively scheduled for October 15 - and any postponement should be legally justified, Thaksin Shinawatra told a gathering of Thai Rak Thai's senior figures and former MPs yesterday.

He said it would be acceptable to Thai Rak Thai if an election postponement was caused by "a problem in the system beyond the government's control" - such as the resignation of the embattled Election Commissioners.

Pimuk Simaroj, a deputy party spokesman, quoted him as saying the ruling party "won't stand it if there's no election due to people who don't comply with the Constitution's rules".

The spokesman said Thaksin did not want the next election to be postponed "for the sake of the country's democracy".

Thaksin presided over a closed-door meeting at the party's headquarters yesterday afternoon. Reporters were not allowed inside the meeting room after the first 15 minutes.

The Thai Rak Thai leader told the participants they should not be too concerned about the fact the party is accused of electoral fraud and may be dissolved if found guilty, according to Pimuk.

In the meeting Thaksin did not mention his earlier claim that a "charismatic figure" outside the political system was behind a plot to overthrow him unconstitutionally, the spokesman said. However, participants were given copies of a text from Thaksin's controversial speech made before a gathering of high-ranking bureaucrats last week.

Earlier in the day, Labour Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, who is also a deputy Thai Rak Thai leader, said he believed the next general election would go ahead as planned.

However, many former party MPs from the Northeast who met on Monday night agreed it was possible the election would be postponed, a party source said.

Thaksin told yesterday's meeting he would "protect democracy with his life", according to another source.

He also surprised participants when he told them he "knew what he was doing" and he "realised what the consequences would be", the source said. The premier was probably referring to his recent claim about an alleged plot to remove him from office.

Almost 500 party members, many of them wearing yellow T-shirts in honour of His Majesty the King attended yesterday's seminar, which was entitled "Being Constructive, Being Reconciliatory, and Adhering to Democracy".

Party secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit said at the gathering that although nothing could ensure the election would be held on October 15, the party still wanted it to go ahead as planned.

"Former party MPs have to visit each constituency to campaign and to make people understand, to bring harmony to the political situation," he said.

While Thaksin was giving his speech about national harmony, media representatives and cameramen were told to leave the room. Party staff members told them a press conference would be held after the event.

Many reporters became upset and some complained about a possible violation of press freedom.

"They should be more open-minded and should have shared seminar details with the public. This way, it's beneficial to Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai," one angry reporter said.

Yesterday's event was previously designed to focus on preparation for the next general election.

However, after Thaksin met with party executives on Monday, he decided to change the seminar's theme to focus on national harmony and democracy.

Meanwhile, a group of blind lottery vendors gathered outside the party's headquarters before the seminar and demanded that the caretaker PM help them with "unfair" lottery quotas.

The vendors appeared disappointed when the caretaker premier did not talk with them. He just waved to them and walked straight into the building.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation