Thai candidates campaigning for votes

BANGKOK, January 16 (TNA) - Thailand's election candidates are campaigning for votes for the new general election, set on February 2, 2014, especially those in provincial areas. In the Thai North, candidates of political parties are actively campaigning for votes in Lamphun Province, while election officials in Chiang Rai Province are organizing training on electoral laws to prepare local police for the upcoming general election. In Nong Khai Province in the Thai Northeast, local election officials have candidates swear to comply with the electoral laws. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana said he believes that Thailand's new general election will happen on February 2 as scheduled, as candidates are campaigning for votes and overseas advance elections have already taken place. Phongthep warned that any party disturbing the national poll will be held responsible. Meanwhile, election candidates of the ruling Pheu Thai Party have filed their complaints with police, accusing the five-member Election Commission of Thailand (EC) for failing to register their candidacy in their constituencies and proposing the caretaker prime minister to postpone the new general election date from February 2. The Pheu Thai candiates said they consider that the EC has no sound reasons for the proposed postponement and for trying not to organize the general election on February 2.(TNA)