Thailand to hold poll re-runs in April

Bangkok: Thailand's Election Commission today said repolling will be held in April in constituencies where voting was disrupted by protesters demanding the ouster of premier Yingluck Shinawatra as political uncertainty continued to plague the country.

"Voting for constituencies where elections could not take place on February 2 will take place on April 27," Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told reporters.

Balloting will not be held in areas where there is a risk of possible law violations as it would be a waste of time and money, poll officials said.

This meant that political limbo would continue in Thailand, which saw the snap polls being boycotted by the opposition Democrat Party that is leading the protests against Yingluck's caretaker government.

Yingluck will remain caretaker premier with limited powers over policy until there is a quorum of 95 per cent for the 500 seats in the lower house of parliament to enable the appointment of a new government.

The protest group, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), has been continuing its demonstrations calling for the snap polls to be declared null and void and for Yingluck's government to quit.

Another round of advance voting will take place a week before the repolls. No decision has been taken on the 28 constituencies that have no candidates because protesters blocked the registration process.

"Any hint of violence in the constituencies would negate the value of any election, especially if the protesters were to again block the polling stations," Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen said.

Supachai said the poll panel felt a royal decree should be issued for new elections in constituencies where not even one candidate has registered.

If the caretaker government did not agree to issue a royal decree, the Commission could forward the case to the Constitutional Court to determine what options could be applied in the case.

The Election Commission's proposal for issuing a royal decree earlier sparked criticism from some individuals, who noted that the government had already issued a royal decree for the general election and could not thus issue another one for new polls.