Bangkok sets dates for poll registration

Bangkok sets dates for poll registration

BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand's caretaker government has set Oct. 21 to 25 as the registration period for candidates contesting the Nov. 17 general election, a government minister said yesterday.

Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, deputy prime minister and minister of defense, told reporters political parties would have to register their candidates for the 393-seat parliament during that period.

There are 14 officially-registered parties, but political analysts say four major parties will be vying for control of the government.

The four front-runners are premier Banharn Silpa-archa's Chart Thai Party, Chavalit's New Aspiration Party, the Democrat Party led by former prime minister Chuan Leekpai and the Chart Pattana Party headed by another former prime minister, Chatichai Choonhavan.

Banharn dissolved parliament and called snap elections last week after being forced to resign as prime minister.