Somboon claimed senators knew votes for independent bodies would earn them Bt500,000.

"I will ask every one in the Senate if they know this. If they say they do not, I will challenge them to swear before the Emerald Buddha. Will those who've taken kickbacks and say they have not dare to swear, or not,'' he asked.

If more than 80 senators voted for the same seven candidates, he would believe there had been bloc voting.

He said many that swore before the Emerald Buddha faced the consequences of their actions.

Somboon claimed a university deputy rector told him members of the NCCC selection panel had received a list of seven candidates that a large political party wanted nominated.

Somboon asserted Pracharat Party leader Snoh Thienthong acknowledged he had lobbied senators to vote for independent body members and had also lobbied for a deputy Senate speaker.

"I wish that my colleagues who have committed wrong will change their ways and vote for people of integrity and not for those desired by politicians,'' he said.

Meanwhile, caretaker Senator Karun Saingarm alleged he witnessed a recent meeting of senators representing the North, Northeast and Central regions at the Radisson Hotel.

When he enquired of staff about the purpose of the meeting he claimed his colleagues left the hotel.

"I want to know if they were meeting to talk about the bloc vote for the NCCC and Election Commission (EC). But I am sure they were just having an ordinary get-together,'' he said.

Caretaker Senator Wallop Tangkhananurak said it was likely tomorrow's Senate would appoint a screening panel to check the backgrounds of each of the 10 EC nominees, before moving on to a vote for the graft busters.