When asked if politicians could distribute gifts such as blankets and jars, Prawit said they could. “Go ahead. Carry very big jars as a handout,” he said.

Pheu Thai Party members have refrained from handing out red bowls with Songkran good wishes from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after soldiers seized a number of the bowls from three former Pheu Thai Party MPs in Nan last week.

Dr Chonlanan Srikaew, a former Pheu Thai MP, said he had been summoned for questioning before soldiers confiscated the bowls. He was told that distributing the bowls violated Article 116 of the Criminal Code.

Pheu Thai Party yesterday held a Songkran water ceremony at party headquarters. Party members performed a water ritual with leaders including former prime ministers Somchai Wongsawat andYingluck Shinawatra.

Thaksin called the group via Skype and cited a Harvard University study that concluded that people who are happy are those who have good relationships with family members and friends.

He urged Pheu Thai politicians to love their constituents. “If politicians do not love the people, the country’s democracy will realise its demise,” he said.

He thanked party members who fought for the party even though some of them had been summoned for “attitude adjustment” by the government.

He added that he was still strong at age 67 and could walk many kilometres to visit constituents.

Yingluck said she wanted to see a Songkran full of smiles and for Thais to be allowed to have differing opinions.