BANGKOK, Feb. 25 (Xinhuanet) --- The embattled Thai prime minister on Saturday pledged a package of populist measures in a bid to win a new mandate in the upcoming parliamentary election as the opposition threatened to boycott the poll.

    In his hour-long weekly radio speech broadcast nationwide Saturday, Thaksin appeared confident in face of the early parliamentary election slated for April 2, three years ahead of schedule, against an oppositional campaign to oust him.

    He gave the assurance that he would extend help to laborers, civil servants, students and farmers plagued by inflation fueled by soaring oil prices.

    Thaksin also pledged more debt relief for farmers in the rural areas and a rise in the minimum wage for residents in Bangkok, an opposition stronghold for launching anti-government campaigns.

    "I am considering 200 baht since 180 baht per day may not enough in Bangkok," said the prime minister while talking of the minimum daily wage.

    Meanwhile, leaders of the pro-democracy movement and the opposition parties determined to topple Thaksin administration called for voters to boycott the upcoming election and demanded the resignation of the prime minister.

    Suriyasai Katasila, spokesman of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which spearheaded the recent anti-government rallies, reiterated their call for the unconditional step-down of the prime minister so as to pave the way for the political reform.

    "We would like to call on the democratic groups, teachers, students, ordinary people and all political parties to reject the election," he said.

    The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Saturday issued a statement, affirming its plan to hold a massive rally against caretaker Thaksin on Sunday.

    The PAD is against the House dissolution and calls on the people to join the rally at Sanam Luang at 4 p.m. on Sunday to pressure for a real political reform, said the statement.

    The rally is expected to draw some 100,000 participants and violence may arise, according to government officials.

    Shortly before the dissolution of the House by Thaksin late Friday, Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva declared he is ready to become the prime minister who adheres to the principle of good governance and ethics, not authoritarianism.

    "The Democrat party and I are ready to take over the country's administration if there is a political change," said the Democrat leader.