"It is natural for my supporters to cheer me on, but I am a realist and have served as the prime minister already," he said.

Banharn said he foresaw many hurdles even if his party could muster enough support to form his second coalition.

Some 30 years ago, the now-defunct Social Action Party managed to take the government's helm with 18 votes, but this was impossible to repeat in today's politics, he said. The new government should have a majority of around 300 of the 500 House seats and his party might not win more than 30 seats.

Banharn was speaking on the sidelines of his birthday party. Many well-wishers, including party secretary-general Prapat Pothasuthon, greeted the birthday boy as the new prime minister.

Banharn denied news reports on Friday that caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had made a secret agreement with him to hand over his reins as a stop-gap leader pending the completion of constitutional amendments within a year. He said he was not making any plans, specifically denying that he would ask Bank of Thailand governor Pridiyathorn Devakula to join the next government.

Speaking in the presence of Mahachon Party leader Sanan Kachornprasart, Banharn said he had no political enemies and would decide on any future alliance after seeing the election results.

Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan said her ruling party enjoyed the trust of the people. She downplayed an opinion survey on the party's sagging popularity.

Sudarat stated that her party remained unified, dismissing speculation about defections. She also said the headlines linking comments of Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda to Thaksin were "inappropriate".

Prem spoke on leadership virtues and certain newspapers wrongly construed his statement as a veiled attack against Thaksin, she said.