The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has received a boost after the Election Commission (EC) ruled its prime ministerial candidate Prayut Chan-o-cha can help with election campaigning.
However, PPRP executives have yet to discuss how Gen Prayut will carry out campaign activities and will seek his opinion about the issue, PPRP leader Uttama Savanayana said.
According to Mr Uttama, some people want to hear what plans Gen Prayut has for the development of the country.
"So it's clear we can invite him to take part in the election campaign. Our supporters are waiting [for him to participate]. If he can participate in the campaign, it would give the party's candidates a huge boost," said Mr Uttama.
"I think he'll accept our invitation even though he has rejected politicians' calls for him to take part in debates."
Gen Prayut said earlier that he had no interest in taking part in debates, as he was too busy with official duties. If people wanted to know his policies, he said, they could judge him by his actions. In his view, debates are a waste of time and involve mostly political name-calling.
Mr Uttama recently submitted a letter asking the EC if Gen Prayut can join party candidates in electioneering and addressing crowds. However, the letter did not mention if Gen Prayut could take part in political debates.
The EC ruled that he must refrain from using his position in a manner that will provide an advantage or disadvantage to election candidates or political parties under Section 78 of the organic law on the election of MPs.
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, a Pheu Thai Party PM candidate, said the premier must make sure he does not exploit his position as PM to visit local people and use the opportunity to woo voters.
Gen Prayut's profile on his Facebook page on Thursday was changed to describe him as a public figure rather than a state official.
In a separate development, EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said the Election Commission is wrapping up its investigation into a PPRP fund-raising dinner but that it had yet to verify if the party followed fund-raising regulations as stipulated in the organic law governing political parties.
The law prohibits government agencies, state enterprises or any agency in which the state is a major shareholder from making political donations and requires political parties to file reports on fund-raising events including those who donate more than 100,000 baht.
The junta-aligned party boasted that it raised 650 million baht at the December banquet, but its submission to the EC accounted for just 90 million baht. Some critics have accused the party officials of asking state agencies and enterprises to help support the event.
