The opposition Pheu Thai Party will not join the Palang Pracharath Party to form the next government, even if it fails to win in a landslide in the upcoming general election, party leader Cholnan Srikaew told supporters at a campaign rally held in the northern province of Phitsanuloke on Sunday night.

Cholnan’s statement is seen as rebuffing an earlier offer by General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, that he will try to end the political polarisation which has beset Thailand for more than a decade.

The opposition leader told the audience at the campaign rally in Bang Rakam district that, if the people support the Pheu Thai Party in achieving its goal of winning up to 310 seats in the next parliament, they will not join with any party associated with dictatorship.

He said that the party will form a coalition with whichever party wins the second most parliamentary seats, but that party must embrace democratic principles and be able to work with the Pheu Thai Party.

Paetongtarn, the head of the Pheu Thai “Family”, told the audience that the party aims to win all seats in Phitsanuloke province with its policies and that she has confidence in the party’s candidates.

She also said that the party is closely monitoring the opinion polls and is assessing the situation accordingly.

Chief advisor to Paetongtarn, real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin, who has quit his real estate business to pursue a political career, told the media after his first public campaign address that he is very excited and impressed with the turnout.