BIRTHDAY VISIT Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, left, talks to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who visited him at his Ratchawithi residentce yesterday to wish him a happy 50th birthday. — Kosol Nakachol

The Election Commission plans to organise re-elections on Feb 20 where needed and finalise all election results by March 25.

Commissioner Charupat Ruangsuwan said yesterday the EC would meet daily until Feb 14 to consider poll complaints involving leading candidates. Within the next three or four days the commission would announce the constituencies where re-elections were needed.

Gen Charupat said the EC had to announce the official list of MPs by March 25 in order to keep the schedule of the royal inauguration of the first parliamentary session.

Secretary-general Ekkachai Varunprapa said the EC had put 15 complaints involving leading candidates on its agenda but he declined to name the constituencies.

As of yesterday the EC had received 328 complaints of poll irregularities.

Meanwhile, the Kanchanaburi election committee is investigating the seizure of 1.5 million baht in cash from a man by Sai Yok district police. Police took the money from Surachai Chanthong even though there was an indication the money came from a lawful source.

Panel chairwoman Aree Ungjanil said the inquiry would find out whether the money belonged to a poll candidate and whether it was intended for vote buying.

The panel was also looking into five petitions against election results, Mrs Aree said. The first three had been filed before the general election against Thai Rak Thai candidates Paiboon Pimpisitthavorn, Gen Somchai Witsanuwong and Santhad Jinapak, who all won.

The fourth petition was lodged by Thai Rak Thai candidate and eight-time MP Rawat Sirinukul who accused Democrat candidate Parames Photharakul, who beat him, of hiring people to vote for him during advance voting on Jan 29-30.

In the fifth petition, Democrat candidate for constituency 5 Pracha Phothipipit, known as Kamnan Sia, complained of vote buying, irregularities in the transfer of ballot boxes and vote counting, and threats against observers for his party.