BANGKOK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's new constitution draft may be completed sooner than its planned six-month timetable, and the long anticipated new general election may be held earlier than originally planned, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said on Wednesday.

    Surayud remarked on this issue when meeting Japan's Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya who is visiting Bangkokto participate in a cultural festival celebrating the 120th anniversary of Japan-Thailand diplomatic relations to be held later this month, according to the Thai News Agency.

    Surayud told Iwaya about the progress of drafting the charter in which he expressed confidence it will be completed within six months as scheduled or it may be complete within four months, two months earlier the first anticipated.

    Upon completion of the constitution writing process, the government will speed up the electoral process, so that the general election will be held at the possible shortest time.

    On seizing power in a bloodless coup toppling the administration of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept.19 last year, the coup-makers pledged the earliest possible general election, most likely before the end of this year, to return power to the people.