When asked whether he was worried that handouts might be breaking electoral laws, Thaksin replied: "Oh, yes. I'm very careful about it. I try not to breathe too heavily or I will be accused of snatching the air from other people."

Thaksin's apparent change of mind was viewed as possible concern that the act could go against the electoral law.

Legal experts have been divided as to whether such an act violates the electoral law. The two previous Election Commissions made differing rulings about the matter - one deemed distributing government items tantamount to vote-buying while the other saw nothing wrong with it.

Yesterday morning, Thaksin attended a Cabinet meeting via a teleconferencing system from Khon Kaen's Provincial Hall. He told his Cabinet he had found certain problems during his visit, such as delays in the distribution of state funds to certain projects and a shortage of medical personnel in rural areas, Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said.