Two weeks before the poll, the number of constituencies that Thai Rak Thai will field the lone candidate now totals 80 in the Central region, 35 in the South, 65 in the North and 94 in the Northeast.

"The Election Commission is too strict on candidacy qualifications," Prachakorn Thai Party leader Sumit Sundaravej complained.

At the rate it was losing candidates it had no hope of becoming an effective opposition, he said. As of yesterday, the commission had disqualified 81 candidates of 140 under the party's banner in Bangkok.

Sumit said 10 of his party's candidates upcountry also were on the verge of being removed.

The commission said most of those disqualified failed to meet the 90-day rule for party affiliation.

In Sa Kaew, 14 candidates from six parties failed to get endorsed. This will lead to uncontested polls for three candidates from the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party.

The party's four candidates in Yasothon will also be unchallenged following the disqualification of "rivals" from small parties.

In Surat Thani, 14 out of 21 candidates were removed from the race. The disqualified included Thai Rak Thai candidate, Prakij Phetcharat, for belonging to two parties.

In Phatthalung, 13 candidates from six parties are standing for three House seats, but two face a disqualification review.

In Narathiwat, the commission is poised to disqualify seven candidates from four parties, resulting in uncontested polls for five candidates from the ruling party.

In Udon Thani, two candidates of a small party were disqualified for being members of two parties.

Disqualified candidate Udom Krawatnussorn said he would try to restore his candidacy for a Samut Sakhon seat by appealing to the Supreme Court.

The commission removed him from the race last week for failing to cast a ballot in last year's general election. Udom claims he cast an absentee ballot but electoral officials botched his voting record.

All disqualified candidates are entitled to seek an appellate review.

Several Thai Rak Thai Party members are worried that the disqualification of candidates from small parties will leave the public with the impression that the April 2 election lacks transparency, a source said yesterday.

The major opposition parties, which are boycotting the poll, allege that many people were paid to stand as candidates for smaller parties. The judgement of the Election Commission in regard to candidates' qualifications seemed inconsistent, the source said.

Atthayuth Butrsripoom

The Nation