Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has come under renewed pressure over his luxury watch collection as petitions and online polls have been launched asking people if they think he should resign.

This follows his comment in a widely shared video on Wednesday that, "If the people don’t want me, I’m ready to leave."

Huge majorities of respondents said or voted that they wanted Gen Prawit to quit.

Human rights activist Thicha Nanakorn on Wednesday evening started a petition on Change.org.

Ms Thicha, a director of the Kanjanapisek Juvenile Vocational Training Centre for Boys, previously launched a petition calling on Gen Prawit, also defence minister, to resign over the mysterious death of cadet Pakapong "Moei" Tanyakan at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School on Oct 17 last year.

The CSI LA Facebook page, which published pictures of 25 luxury watches worn by Gen Prawit, and the Teenee ThaiPBS Facebook page for a programme on the ThaiPBS television channel, conducted polls.

Other polls on the same issue included one on the Drama-addict Facebook page, which has over 1.8 million followers.

As of press time, its poll launched at 3pm on Wednesday saw 95% of 73,500 respondents saying they wanted Gen Prawit to step down.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday he sympathised with Gen Prawit over the watch scandal. But he said things would not have got out of hand if Gen Prawit had clarified the matter right from the start. Consequently, the scandal has continued to haunt him and the regime, the former premier said.

"We must try to create a culture of explaining ourselves or of political accountability to prevent politics from getting stuck in a trap... We must do everything to stop this from obstructing the country's progress," Mr Abhisit said.

Meanwhile, about 30 people from Sa Kaeo, Prachin Buri and Samut Prakan provinces and the Klong Lat Phrao community of Bangkok converged at the Defence Ministry Thursday in a show of moral support for Gen Prawit.

They called on Gen Prawit not to resign while insisting that the gathering was not organised by anyone but themselves.

Political activist Veera Somkwamkid wrote on Facebook urging deputy national police chief Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul to take legal action against the group of Gen Prawit supporters.

The group broke the law governing public assembly which bans political gatherings of more than five people, Mr Veera said, adding that these are also prohibited within 150 metres of royal palaces.

If no action is taken against the group, Mr Veera said he would sue Pol Gen Srivara for dereliction of duty.