The party says it would try to complete the new round of politi¬cal reforms within 18 months and set up an independent body to address farmrelated grievances.

"My party has a successful track record for political reforms leading to the promulgation of the 1997 Constitution and I am confident that I can push through another round of reforms," party leader Banharn Silapaarcha said.

Banharn said he was ready to spearhead constitutional amend¬ments, noting the next government would be a transitional one to usher in reforms before calling for a gen¬eral election.

In the meantime, the incoming Election Commission would have to set a new date for the current poll, he said, as it would not be able to stage one on October 15.

"In my opinion, the new election should take place as soon as possi¬ble for the sake of salvaging the economy," he said.

Chat Thai was fully ready the contest the ballot, he said, boast¬ing about its three new recruits - Prapat Panyachatraksa, Nalikatipak Sanegsanit and Wiroj Tangwanich.

Prapat was a Thai Rak Thai executive and Cabinet member in charge of natural resources and the environment before joining Chat Thai - as a partylist candidate.

Prapat said he amicably parted ways with ruling party leader Thaksin Shinawatra because he wanted to implement political reforms with Chat Thai.

With his extensive experience with farm groups, he said he hoped to help Chat Thai set up an Agricultural Council to address the plight of farmers.

Nalikatipak is expected to run as the partylist candidate. He took an early retirement from the military three years ago to serve as vice min¬ister in charge of information and communications technology.

His father is former supreme commander General Viroj Saengsanit, a close ally of Banharn.

Wiroj is slated to run for a House seat from Bangkok Constituency 5 that covers China Town in Samphanthawong district.

He currently produces and hosts many popular television programmes after gaining fame as a student activist who made politi¬cal satires in the 1970s with Thammasat University's Chinese Opera.

The Nation