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The party would be open for all MPs except those who left when the group of Newin Chidchob defected to join the Democrat government, said Apiwan, who is also a Deputy House Speaker.

According to the official result of Sunday's by-election, Pheu Thai candidate Surachart Charnpradit defeated Chart Thai Pattana's Sakulthip Angkasakulkiat by 124,327 votes to 76,435. The turnout was 61.8 per cent, with 3.8 per cent of votes invalid.

A week earlier, a Pheu Thai candidate defeated his Bhum Jai Thai rival in a by-election in Sakon Nakhon.

Meanwhile, Bhum Jai Thai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said no party MPs would return to Pheu Thai because of the by-election result - but four Pheu Thai MPs had approached about joining their party.

Supachai conceded the popularity of former prime minister and fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra was still strong. But the result of a general election would be different as Bhum Jai Thai would work harder.

 Democrat proportionate MP Sutasn Ngenmune - many times a Ubon Ratchathani MP - said Pheu Thai's victory could reflect the popularity of Thaksin. Moreover, attacks against Newin as a traitor and against Chart Thai Pattana's candidate as Newin's follower, were part of the victory. Northeastern people hate betrayers, he said.

Sutasn conceded he had met with Thaksin's brother-in-law and former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, but declined speculation he would switch to Pheu Thai, saying he and Somchai had known each other before.

A source, who asked not to |be named, said Sutasn, on the |other hand, had held talks |with Pheu Thai key members, including Somchai, in an attempt to persuade the party to join the government.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Democrat leader, said he was not surprised to see northeastern people still supporting Thaksin.

The Pheu Thai Party had worked hard during the election campaign.

To the question why he had not visited local people in the North and the Northeast during the campaign - Abhisit said he did not want to stir up conflict.

New Politics Party secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila, a Si Sa Ket native, said the election result showed the government's failure to win the hearts of northeastern people.

The Democrats had given up in the area and hoped Newin's Bhum Jai Thai Party would be able to woo them.

Suriyasai said vote results in the two provinces did not fully reflect Thaksin's popularity as Pheu Thai's opponents did not attack the former PM during the election campaign. At the same time, canvassers came from the followers of Thaksin's regime.

Election Commission member Sodsri Satayathum said the EC had received complaints about Thaksin's phone-in calling for the Pheu Thai's candidate's support. The EC would have to consider whether it was unlawful.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party had requested the EC investigate transparency in the advance voting of the by-elections, both in Sakon Nakhon and Si Sa Ket, as the results from advance voting and on election days were not proportionate. The party suspected its election opponent of bringing people in to vote on the days of advance voting.