NCCC nominates Prasit for Senate

"Prasit has extensive qualifications and experience and he should not be judged by his minority opinions," Saravut said, referring to Prasit's ruling in 2001 in favour of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in an assetsconcealment case.

He dismissed suspicion over Prasit's nomination coming in the wake of the People Power Party's election victory.

In a separate development, Senate candidate Rosana Tositrakul complained that the Election Commission had failed to clearly outline candidacy qualifications.

Rosana wants to know whether her two positions, as a member of the MCOT board and the lawreform committee, would represent a conflict.

Two candidates have registered for the race, and about 20 aspiring candidates have collected registration forms. Registration closes tomorrow.

The two candidates are Somkuan Buraminhaen and Tanat Ratanasartsuk. Somkuan is a businessman and Tanat is disabled lottery vendor.

Bangkok election office head Chainarong Thianmongkol met seven civic groups that will help to supervise and monitor the Senate poll on March 2.

Some Bt2 million will be spent monitoring and attempting to detect electoral fraud in the capital.