"I will be on the party list, I will be the chairman of the party, but I'm not sure whether I should accept the prime ministership or not," Financial Times quoted him as saying at a public forum in New York on Monday.

He was in New York this week to attend UN General Assembly meeting at the UN headquarters and to campaign for Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai to replace outgoing UN top boss.

Asked about the confusion over his future, amid speculation over whether he would step aside after nearly a year of political chaos in Bangkok, Thaksin said that was "because I'm confused myself."

Financial Times quoted Thaksin as saying that he would make a decision, and publicly clarify his intentions before the national vote. "I will definitely have to announce before, probably on election registration day."

He also sought to reassure foreign investors that the country would quickly return to normal after the polls, now expected in the second half of November, with November 19 and 26 mooted as possible dates.

 "The new government will be coming to work by right after New Year," he said. "So I think within three months things will be back to normal. So it's time to invest."

Speaking at an event on "The Future of Democracy of Asia," Thaksin lashed out at the anti-Thaksin movements who have campaigned against him as threats to Thai democracy.

 "A free and fair democratic election process must not be compromised by those who do not like its outcomes," he said. "When the people have spoken through elections which are judged truly democratic, the people's will must carry the day, and not be compromised by demonstrations in the street. If this were to happen, what can we expect to happen to Asia's democratic future?"

He described the forces arrayed against him as "business leaders who are not successful in debt restructuring … drug dealers, illegal lottery operators, and … some media tycoons" whose interests had been hurt by his government, and said he did not want to capitulate to them.

 They are trying to bring him down, Thaksin said, "If I were to step down amidst the process of elections, it means that I sacrifice the democracy for those protestors who lost their own interests," according to Financial Times.