Allies of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appeared to emerge as victors in Thailand's post-coup election Sunday but failed to secure an absolute majority in parliament, according to unofficial results from the Election Commission, AP reported. With 80 percent of the vote counted, the pro-Thaksin People's Power Party won 230 seats in the 480-seat lower house of parliament, the Election Commission said. The rival Democrat Party won 161 seats. PPP's head Samak Sundaravej told a news conference that Thaksin, who was said to be in Hong Kong, had telephoned after hearing the results. «Thaksin said congratulations,» Samak told a news conference, calling on «any political parties» to join PPP to form a coalition government. Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006 but retains widespread popularity among the rural majority. PPP campaigned on a platform of bringing Thaksin back from exile in London and continuing his populist policies. Full results were expected before midnight (1700 GMT) Sunday.
