PPP denies its alliance with Chart Thai, Matchima

Yongyuth also brushed aside a scenario that the PPP might prop up Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapaarcha as the next prime minister in order to avoid political tensions if its constroversial leader Samak Sundaravej were to take the job.

"The PPP has garnered many sympathy votes because it is a victim of a smear campaign," he said.

He conceded that rumour mongers might be PPP insiders who made irresponsible comments aimed to please the local press.

"When I have a chance to go to my party's office, I will tell these rumour mongers to stop this kind of speculation," he said.

He said the PPP would not do anything that can be construed as fuelling the turmoil.

He spoke on the sidelines of his campaign trial in Bang Kapi.

Meanwhile Banharn said in a campaign speech in Kalasin that he was ready to be a friend of every party.

He said he had no advance commitments with the Democrat Party as speculated.

"The Chart ThaiDemocrat alliance existed when the two parties were in the opposition," he said, adding that his party is willing to negotiate with every party after the balloting outcome is known.

The Nation