Thai opposition challenges polls in court

Thailand's opposition Democrat Party will challenge the disputed ballot in a Constitutional Court, as a long-running political conflict has showed no sign of ending.

The opposition will file two complaints on Tuesday, as the Election Commission meets on Wednesday to probe possible campaigning irregularities.

"We will argue that the election violated the constitution, in particular article 68 which prohibits people from undermining the constitutional monarchy and trying to grab power through unconstitutional means," opposition spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said. 

Intarakomalyasut told Reuters the state of emergency, which the government imposed last month to control protests, meant that the election 'could not be held under normal circumstances,' and that Yingluck's party should be dissolved.

The Election Commission is also due to discuss problems surrounding the election, including the failure to register candidates in 28 electoral districts after protesters blockaded candidate registration centres in December.

During Sunday's election, demonstrators blocked balloting in a fifth of constituencies, saying Yingluck must resign and make way for an appointed "people's council" to overhaul a political system they say has been exploited by her billionaire brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"There was an opportunity throughout the last two months for the government to see the light and acknowledge that the February 2 election wasn't going to provide a solution for the country," Korn Chatikavanij of the Democratic Party said.

The Democrats say in order to end the crisis, the government needs to set up a council, subject to a referendum, that will implement wide-ranging political reforms. But they say the government has refused to hold discussions.

Sunday's election was generally peaceful, with no repeat of the chaos seen the previous day, when supporters and opponents of Yingluck clashed in north Bangkok.

"The anarchists in the streets just want to overthrow the government, overthrow the whole system. They said about the legitimacy of the government and they want to overthrow the government through every means," Pokin Polakun of (Yungluck's) Pheu Thai Party said.