Thai Rak Thai popularity in the three Muslim-dominated southernmost provinces surged yesterday, with the party reportedly taking eight of the 11 House seats.

In the 2001 election, the Democrats took five seats in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, while New Aspiration party took five and TRT one.

According to exit polls conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, TRT was likely to take nine seats across the entire South, where 54 seats in 14 provinces are for grabs. Eight of the nine seats were from the three border provinces.

A promise by TRT leader Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for huge economic development investment in the southernmost area was cited as a reason for the improved election result.

Sisomphop Jitrpiromsrim, of Pattani-based Prince of Songkhla University's faculty of political science, said TRT support could stem from the promise to invest billions of baht to improve the standard of living of local people.

``The government made a lot of economic promises in the southernmost area in its campaign. This could be a crucial factor behind the party's triumph,'' said the academic, adding local people might not be happy with the government's failure to end separatist tensions in the area, but preferred to overlook it.

Mr Sisomphop also attributed TRT's victory in the far South to the recent defections to TRT of four former Democrat MPs.

Worawit Baru, Prince of Songkhla University's deputy rector, said the election result clearly indicated local people might not be happy with the government in tackling regional troubles, but at the same time were also unhappy with the Democrat party.

``People in the three provinces feel rather uneasy with the government, but they were also not convinced the Democrats could tackle the problems,'' said the deputy rector.

Mr Worawit said the credibility and reputation of Deputy Prime Minister Wan Muhammad Nor Matha, former New Aspiration secretary-general and a veteran Yala politician, also contributed to TRT popularity in the deep South.

Abdullahman Abdulsomat, chairman of Narathiwat Provincial Islamic Committee, said Mr Wan Nor's political image undoubtedly helped strengthen the TRT political base.

He said local Muslims were unhappy with how the demonstration last October at Tak Bai police station was resolved, with 85 protesters killed.

However, the religious leader said Mr Wan Nor had played a crucial role in defusing the crisis from further escalation.

Eight new TRT MPs will include Paisal Yingsaman (Yala-constituency two of Raman and Yaha), Buraha Nudin Useng (Yala-constituency three of Bannang Sata, Betong, Than To and Krong Pinang), Wairoj Pipithpakdi (Pattani-constituency one of Muang), Somart Jena (Pattani-constituency three of Panare, Sai Buri, Mae Laen and Kapho), Mook Sulaiman (Pattani-constituency four of Mayo, Thung Yang Daeng and Yarang), Pornpit Pattanakullert (Narathiwat-constituency one of Muang), Nujmudin Uma (Narathiwat-constituency three of Rangae, Cho Airong and Sukhirin) and Sa-udee Pumabutr (Narathiwat-constituency four of Rueso, Yi-ngo, Bacho and Si Sakhon).

Democrats were likely to take at least one seat from each of the three provinces. These are Prasert Pongsuwansiri (Yala-constituency one of Muang), Isama-aei Yidoromae (Pattani-constituency two of Kapho, Nong Chik and Mae Laen) and Surachet Wae-arsae (Narathiwat-constituency two of Sungai Kolok, Sungai Padi and Waeng.)