Thai anti-government protesters have mobilized in Bangkok for their planned "shutdown" of the capital as they step up efforts to topple the government and halt upcoming elections. The politically turbulent country has been shaken by more than two months of mass demonstrations against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Demonstrators, who have vowed to disrupt the vote, packed equipment up at their main Bangkok rally site and began fanning out to seven locations across the city.

The hatches are being battened down. Political frontlines have been draw and neither side is willing to compromise. The stage is set for what anti-government protesters claim to be the biggest "shutdown" Thailand has ever seen.

This is their latest bid in a more than two-month attempt by protesters to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and derail the election slated for February 2nd.

"We haven't set an end date. We are going to move forward until our goal is met, because we've already given up the main base for seven other spots. All this is to pressure the prime minister to take responsibility and realize what the people want," said protest leader Issara Somchai.

In this vast city of around 10 million people, protesters are unlikely to paralyze all movement. But this is just the beginning.

"We will keep fighting like this until the PM resigns, I'm not turning back," said an anti-government protester.

The attempt to block major intersections of Bangkok is ambitious and fiercely controversial. Government supporters, or Red shirts, have lashed out and mobilized over the weekend to counter efforts by the protesters to seize the capital. And with plans to surround all government ministries and homes of lawmakers, many fear that Thailand is teetering on the edge of widespread violence.

Yet violence is always just around the corner. There have been at least eight deaths and around 500 injuries associated with the political unrest. The government is not taking any chances, as they announced to deploy at least 15,000 police and soldiers.

The army has gone to unusual lengths to make it clear that it desperately does not want to step in. But the problem is, the longer this occupation drags on, the greater the risk of violent confrontation that could force the army to intervene, an increasinly real scenario as protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, vows to fight to the end.

"He will not give up. There's nothing to give up for now. This is his last chance. Jail term is waiting for him. He has to win," said political analyst Kriengsak Charoenwongsak.

The stalemate is in effect. This could be a transformative moment in Thai politics, and the country is holding its breath as Thailand heads to an uncertain tomorrow.

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