he final campaign rallies have taken place in Thailand ahead of Sunday’s general election.

The two main parties organised election convoys through Bangkok.

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva’s ruling Democrats face a tough battle against the Puea Thai Party, which is allied to ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and currently led by his sister, Yingluck.

Thailand has endured six years of often bloody political protests and there is tight security for the poll nationwide.

About 170,000 police have been deployed to protect polling stations as Thai citizens return to their home districts to vote.

Last year saw some of the worst violence in decades, with dozens killed. It echoed deep divisions between the ruling elite, linked to the Democrats, and the rural and working class voters that have largely supported Mr Thaksin.

Many of the demonstrators killed last year were supporters of Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
‘Reconciliation’

The BBC’s Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says that although Thaksin Shinawatra is not on the ballot and not even in the country he remains a powerful and divisive political presence.
Continue reading the main story
Thailand’s troubles
Sept 2006: Army overthrows government of Thaksin Shinawatra, rewrites constitution
Dec 2007: Pro-Thaksin People Power Party wins most votes in election
Aug 2008: Mr Thaksin flees into exile before end of corruption to trial
Dec 2008: Mass yellow-shirt protests paralyse Bangkok; Constitutional Court bans People Power Party; Abhisit Vejjajiva comes to power
Mar-May 2010: Thousands of pro-Thaksin red shirts occupy parts of Bangkok; eventually cleared by army; dozens killed

Mr Thaksin is living in exile in Dubai following a two-year corruption conviction in Thailand.

Mr Abhisit has accused Yingluck Shinawatra, 44, of being a proxy for her brother, who is pulling the strings for his own ends.

Puea Thai’s own slogan is: “Thaksin thinks, Puea Thai does”.

Mr Abhisit says Yingluck Shinawatra wants to secure the return of Mr Thaksin, a move that could lead to political instability.

Yingluck Shinawatra, who is vying to become the nation’s first woman prime minister, has promised to revive her older brother’s populist policies if she wins.

At a rally in Bangkok late on Friday she said: “Please give a chance to this woman to serve the country. Please give a chance to this woman to bring reconciliation back to this country.”