Thai poll panel to approach court for new election date

Thailand's Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn Wednesday said that the watchdog would seek from the country's constitutional court a ruling on whether the election commission or the government has the power to issue a new poll decree.

Somchai said the government insisted that it could not issue a new decree to set a new date for elections from 28 constituencies in eight southern provinces, The Nation reported Wednesday.

The election commission has asked the government to issue a new decree to set a new election date for these constituencies where no candidates could register themselves due to blockade by protestors.

Somchai said the request to the court would be sent Wednesday itself.