The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Bangkok

The political party allied with deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Monday it has recruited enough other parties to form a coalition government following its win in Sunday's first post-coup election.

The pro-Thaksin People's Power Party won 228 seats in the parliamentary election, falling short of an absolute majority in the lower house. To govern, it needs to join hands with at least one of the other six parties that won seats. PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said at a news conference that enough parties had responded to his party's entreaties for an alliance to form a ruling coalition with more than half the house seats.

"The PPP will form a government," he said, without naming its partners.

Thailand's political parties pursued coalition talks Monday after allies of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won nearly half the seats - but not an outright majority - in the first parliamentary election since a military coup.

The bargaining foreshadowed continued political instability in Thailand, where the election was billed as a return to democracy following the ouster of the billionaire populist in 2006.

With nearly all votes counted, the People's Power Party - established after Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party was disbanded by court order earlier this year - had won 228 seats in the 480-seat lower house of parliament, according to the state Election Commission. If the PPP fails to build a coalition that secures an absolute majority it could allow opponents to form a government.

Complete election results were due later Monday.

"I would like to call for all political parties to join us in forming a strong government," PPP leader Samak Sundaravej said at a news conference. "I will certainly be the prime minister."

He said Thaksin, who was in Hong Kong, had telephoned to offer his congratulations after hearing the results.

The second-place Democrat Party took 166 seats.

"If the PPP succeeds in forming the government, the Democrat Party is ready to be in the opposition to protect the people's interest. However, if the PPP fails to form a government, the Democrat Party is also ready to form a government," said Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejajjiva. The possible disqualification of some Thaksin allies could also complicate the task of assembling a ruling coalition.

Sodsri Sathayatham, a member of the Election Commission, said at least 24 could be disqualified while re-elections might be necessary in a dozen cases.

The commission, which will meet Wednesday to begin investigations, was barraged by hundreds of complaints of vote-buying and other violations of electoral law.