Key Thai Rak Thai Party figures are concerned that individuals who do not "see eye to eye" with the ruling party could be nominated as election commissioners, a party source said.

Meanwhile, just five names have been officially nominated by Supreme Court judges, according to court secretary Wirat Chinwinitkul. He declined to identify the nominees.

Senior Thai Rak Thai figures were worried individuals not in agreement with the government would be elected to the new Election Commission. The top party figures fear this would call into question the EC's neutrality, the source said.

These senior figures recently raised this issue with outgoing Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua during informal discussions about the selection of the new commissioners.

They were particularly concerned about the prospect of former Supreme Court Justice Nam Yim-yaem being appointed, according to the source.

Nam chaired the EC subcommittee that investigated allegations of poll fraud against the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party.

His panel found there were grounds to prosecute Thai Rak Thai over allegations it hired minor parties to contest the April 2 poll.

It found this was done to overcome electoral provisions calling for candidates who run unopposed to garner a minimum of 20 per cent of the vote.

The subcommittee's findings led to an EC petition to the Constitution Court seeking the dissolution of Thai Rak Thai.

In addition to Nam, likely nominees such as Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka, Supreme Court Chief Justice Vasant Soypisut

and outgoing Senator Kaewsan Atibodhi were also a concern for the ruling party, said the source.

These figures had reputations for honesty and integrity, as well as for not siding with Thai Rak Thai, the source said.

Party deputy spokesman Jatuporn Promphan said yesterday that while some people in Thai Rak Thai were unhappy with certain nominees, they were unable to influence the selection process.

Nominees will be named solely by the Supreme Court. The court would normally nominate just five of the nominees. Because Parliament is not sitting, however, the legislature cannot form its own selection committee.

In the absence of the parliamentary panel the Constitution allows the Supreme Court to nominate all 10 candidates.

Court secretary Wirat said that as of yesterday he had received five nominations from the judges. He expected more today.

The court would announce its list of candidates on its website tomorrow (supremecourt.or.th), he said.

A court source disclosed that among the nominees were Supreme Court Justice Wicha Mahakhun, former Appeals Court Justice Udom Fuangfung, and Amornsak Noprampa, a former Supreme Court secretary who was currently a bank executive.

Nam said yesterday he had decided to stand for an Election Commission seat.

"I took quite a long time before making up my mind. It's an honour for me to be nominated, although I know this is a big competition due to the possibility of a large number of candidates," Nam said.

"It depends on the Supreme Court's general meeting. I don't have high hopes," he said.

To qualify for EC selection, each candidate must be nominated by a Supreme Court judge.

A general meeting of Supreme Court judges is scheduled to select a 10-strong short-list on August 10. The Senate will pick the five commissioners from that list.

The five EC seats are vacant after three commissioners - former EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp and colleagues Prinya Nakchudtree and Virachai Naewboonnien - resigned last week after the Criminal Court convicted them of malfeasance.

EC member Charupat Ruangsuwan quit in May amid growing pressure on the agency over its handling of the April 2 general election.

The fifth member, Jaral Buranapansri, died in November 2005.

A group of university political scientists and more than 20 caretaker senators yesterday separately gave their approval to Nam and a number of other prominent figures.

Others favoured by these groups are Jaruvan, Kaewsan, former senator Pratin Santipraphob, and Deputy Attorney-General Prapan Naikowit.

Kaewsan said yesterday he had given his permission to a Supreme Court judge to nominate him.

The political scientists, gathered at Chulalongkorn University, called on the next Election Commission to serve two years only. A normal term was seven years. The commissioners should leave their seats after managing a free and fair election, the academics said.

Before completing their shortened term, the lecturers suggested commissioners proposed reforms for the agency. Among those should be depriving the EC of judicial power to allow courts to disqualify dishonest candidates.

Political Desk

The Nation