DHAKA: A top Thai protest leader on Saturday asked anti-government activists to prepare for the ‘final battle’ to be triggered by the ouster of embattled premier Yingluck Shinawatra, even as thousands of pro-government ‘Red Shirts’ gathered here for a massive three-day rally.

‘When the day comes, we will seize the ruling power immediately based on the constitutional provision that the sovereign power belongs to the Thai people,’ said Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary of the People’s Democratic Reforms Committee (PDRC) after meeting with his allies.

This will depend on either of the two scenarios — when anti-graft body national anti-corruption commission charged Yingluck with dereliction of duty in the controversial rice pledging scheme or the constitutional court rules to impeach her for transferring national security council chief Thawil Pliensri, he said.

‘The PDRC will not set up a political party and we won`t allow our name to be used politically. Our duty is to protect the country`s interests. After the victory we`ll go back home. It`s either victory or defeat, no middle ground,’ Suthep said as he asked protesters to prepare for the ‘final battle’.

Suthep’s call came as about 1,00,000 pro-government activists are expected to mass on the edge of Bangkok in a show of support for Yingluck, who is facing mounting legal cases that could see her removed from office.

Earlier, ‘Red Shirts’ or the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship — as the group is formally known, had said 5,00,000 supporters would enter the city, reports The Times of India.

BDST: 2115 HRS, APR 05, 2014