The Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties on Thursday expressed confidence they will win the election with enough votes to lead the formation of a new coalition government.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said his party hopes to become the leader of a new government in which only parties in agreement with Democrat policies will be invited to take part.
He was speaking during an interview in the northern province of Phrae, where he led the party's largest-ever election campaign rally on Thursday. The rally took place in front of the province's city hall and was attended by some 3,000 people.
Abhisit: Vows improved welfare
In his speech, Mr Abhisit said the state welfare scheme would be safe under the Democrats, and urged voters to back the party.
All poor people would receive state welfare cards, while cardholders who have too much money to qualify will be forced to give up theirs, he said.
The party would raise the monthly allowance for the poor to 800 baht and wouldn't change the benefits package for holders of the state welfare card that often, he said.
Bhumjaithai spokesman Settapong Malisuwan, meanwhile, dismissed claims the party is desperate to ally with any political camp which would get it into government as a minority coalition partner, saying the party was itself confident of securing a majority.
Some reports have suggested the party could align itself with either Pheu Thai or the Democrats as the major contenders, depending on how they do on the day.
Bhumjaithai is confident it will win a sweeping victory in the eastern provinces and a landslide victory in other constituencies.
In Rayong, for example, despite fierce competition in the race, Bhumjaithai saw itself as a leading contender, he said.
Asked whether Bhumjaithai was ever worried that the East remained a political stronghold of one large party, he said the East had a wide diversity of people.
However, he said, those people share one common outlook on politics: They are fed up with the old format and are looking for something fresh, he said.
