The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) said on Monday it will organise a fundraising activity if the Election Commission (EC) decides that is not in violation of the current ban on parties engaging in political activities.
PPRP leader Uttama Savanayana said he was waiting for an answer from the EC.
Mr Uttama said the party's legal affairs department sent a letter to the commission seeking its advice after the party was criticised for its plan to organise the activity.
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn urged the EC to conduct a probe.
Mr Somchai, now a member of the Democrat Party, recently posted his concerns on his Facebook account after PPRP secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong told media crews that his party may attempt to raise 600 million baht by organising a Chinese-style banquet. The event was scheduled for Dec 19.
According to Mr Sontirat, the banquet would have 200 tables. Participants would be required to pay 3 million baht per table. The venue was named as the Impact Convention and Exhibition Center in Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi.
"The phrase 'political activities' should include their preparations for the banquet," Mr Somchai wrote.
In this case, jobs ranging from booking the venue and making a deposit to sending invitation letters to business organisations would all fall under that umbrella, he said.
"The EC should look into this issue," he suggested.
Mr Uttama said his party understood the concerns and was taking them seriously.
"If the EC says yes, we'll move forward, but if it's a no, we'll stop," he said.
Mr Uttama said four cabinet ministers, including himself, who are now executives of the PPRP will resign from their ministerial posts to avoid a potential conflict of interest in the lead-up to the election. He did not give a fixed date.
"As the election timeline has been revealed, the four of us who have dual roles are ready to step down from our ministerial posts and wear only one hat for the PPRP," he said.
"However, we will do that when the time is right, because we still have an obligation to help the government achieve its targets and complete a number of projects during its remaining time in office," he added.
"People can see how we have behaved since we joining the PPRP. I can assure you we will continue to behave in a transparent and accountable manner," he stressed.
The four are Industry Minister Uttama, Commerce Minister Sontirat, Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee, and PM's Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool.
