The Thai government was slammed as squandering tax payers' money to buy votes after thousands of Thais poured at weekend into an exhibition showcasing the Thaksin Shinawatra administration's achievement.

The Thai government on Friday opened a five-day event entitled "From Past to Future: From Grassroots to Taproots" to exhibit the administration's achievement at the end of its four-year term.

The event, held at Thailand's most modernized exhibition center,turned out to be a joyous fair for hundred of thousands of viewers,who queued in long lines for free handouts and discounted purchaseof air ticket and house.

The exhibition therefore was blamed by critics as the Thaksin government's efforts to buy votes before the general election falling down in January.

"Thaksin cannot say the government's fair has nothing to do with politics," opposition Democrat leader Banyat Bantadtan was quoted by Monday's Bangkok Post as saying. "It kicked off the fairto woo votes."

Meanwhile, Thailand's two major English newspaper Nation and Bangkok Post have run pages of stories since Saturday as how country people were provided with free transport, meals and accommodation or even paid by local government to participate in the exhibition.

"The vast majority of visitors were drawn to entertainment activities and stalls dispensing hand-outs, while more serious activities, such as exhibitions and panel discussions, were largely ignored," reported Nation on Monday.

"It's time the Election Commission investigated to see whether all this abides by election law," said Banyat, who also said actual expense of the exhibition had gone over the budget of 200 million baht (about 5 million US dollars).

Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, however, refuted the accusations, saying the government had never paid or organized people to view the event.

He said the idea was to make the public aware of the government's achievements and plans, though admitting there's no such precedence in Thailand's politics.

Winning out in 2000, Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai enjoys dominant seats in the parliament and high popularity among grassroots.

Despite growing corruption complaints by the country's middle class, analysts predict Thaksin and his party are set to win a second term in the coming general election at the beginning of next year.