Enough with the junta's classified documents: Samak

"Regardless of what the others might say or do, I have already stopped picking on the junta in order to move on to solve the country's problems," he said.

Samak said he was satisfied with the Election Commission-appointed panel report that found the junta biased toward his party.

He criticised Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratglin for masterminding the smear campaign against his party.

"I am obliged to explain to the people because of the allegation that my party is a populist movement designed to overthrow the country's revered institution," he said in reference to the monarchy.

He said he was upbeat that he could secure his party's victory although there were concerted attempts to prevent it from grabbing power. He blamed Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa for abandoning their long-time friendship in order to team up with the Democrats.

"I wonder whether Banharn will be nominated for the position of prime minister even if his party comes out first in the balloting outcome," he said, lamenting what he saw as Banharn's playing second fiddle to the Democrats.

The Nation