PM's visit to Buri Ram to contest Thaksin's popularity

"Buri Ram will be a first destination PM Abhisit (Vejjajiva) to meet Northeaster constituents and I will go with him," he said on Thursday.

Chaovarat said his party will coordiate with the Democrats in organising trips to meet with constituents.

He said he wanted to test the voter's reaction. The visit by the prime minister to the Northeast is the only way gauge for the sentiment toward the government in comparison to the loyalty to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, he said.

He said his party was determined to get closer to the constituents in order to overcome the Thaksin's popularity.