A leading figure in the anti- Thaksin coalition said early Sunday that his group still insisted on the resignation of the premier and that demonstrations will become more fierce after the election.

As the co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Major General Chamlong Srimuang reaffirmed that the demonstrators would resume their protest after the poll until Thaksin quit.

The remarks were made as he was casting his ballot. "No matter what happens, we have to sacrifice for our country...because the only solution to the country's political crisis is to oust Thaksin, " he said.

The beleagued prime minister called the elections three years early in hopes of extinguishing weekly street protests, erupted early February following his family selling its controlling stake in telecom giant Shin Corp. to a Singapore state-owned investment company for 1.9 billion U.S. dollars.

Dut to boycott of the three major opposition party and the barring of some disqualified candidates, the unopposed Thai Rak Thai candidates are unlikely to win the minimum 20 percent of eligible votes required by law to become MPs, analysts say.

By-election will probably need to be held to open the lower house and form the new government, leaving the kingdom in protracted political deadlock for months to come, they said.

Source: Xinhua