The members believe most Thais will vote for the ruling party as the people are satisfied with the government's populist policies.

Sophon Phetsawang, a former MP, said the party's official campaign would be launched after August 24, although many members were already promising continuation of the party's policies.

After visiting his constituency in Buri Ram, Sophon said people often talked to him about the government's populist policies.

"People are satisfied with the Bt30 [health] scheme and the one million cattle and Bt1 million village fund projects," he said.

The party would stick with the same platform it ran on in the previous election and continue

its good work, he added.

People seemed more concerned about the party's possible dissolution by the Constitution Court rather than its leader taking a break from politics, he said. They also asked him about the general election, and whether it would definitely be held on October 15 or if it might be postponed.

Previously, the Thai Rak Thai secretary-general had asked party members to find out if their constituents still wanted Thaksin to be the prime minister or not, and how they would feel if he stepped down, he said.

"My people told me that whoever provides good policies and keeps promises like Thaksin, they will vote [for that person]," he said.

Former Udon Thani MP Surachart Chamnansin said he was confident the party would triumph with the same policies.

"Although our party has not launched new policies, that does not mean people won't support us. The opposition parties don't have any policies to offer people," he said.

Suchart was reacting to the Democrat Party's national media campaign featuring leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"The Democrat Party campaign didn't tell people what would they do," Suchart said.

The public reaction to Thaksin had no impact on the party's popularity; on the other hand the public sympathised with the caretaker premier, he said.

Wang Nam Yom faction member Choochai Mungcharoenporn said many Thai Rak Thai projects were popular with Isaan (northeastern) people, so the party should continue with and develop such schemes.

The party would sweep 136 constituencies in the Northeast because of the popularity of Thai Rak Thai's policies, he said.

A Thai Rak Thai source said Thaksin had been made aware of criticism against him and that he was a political problem.

But if Thaksin stepped down it would not affect the party, as party members could explain Thaksin's decision and people would understand, he said.

 Sucheera Pinijparakarn

 The Nation