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Published on November 8, 2007

"Absolutely, Chart Thai will not join a coalition with the People Power Party. I haven't been in touch with Thaksin (Shinawatra) for a long time. I went to the United Kingdom but I did not see him," he said.

He dismissed reports Chart Thai would be the deciding factor on which political camp would get to form the new government.

Banharn said he could not join with People Power because if he did, society would punish his party. "If we do that, we will not survive. The punishment would be heavy. And if we did, we would be forced to play second fiddle," he said.

If the Democrat Party wins the most seats, Chart Thai would support Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as the next prime minister, he said.

People Power leader Samak Sundaravej reacted to Banharn's comment by saying the Chart Thai leader should not make such a binding commitment.

The Nation