Over 10,000 Thais verified as electoral candidates in individual constituency mode

BANGKOK, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Over 10,000 Thais have been verified as candidates running for MP in the March 24 election, local media reported Tuesday.

The Election Commission (EC) verified a total of 10,792 candidates contesting 350 individual constituencies in the nationwide race to parliament, Thai media Matichon reported.

Earlier this month, a total of 11,181 people had applied to run as candidates in individual constituency mode. Of them, 10,792 candidates have been verified and 389 others have been disqualified, according to the EC official.

Last Friday, a total of 2,810 candidates have been verified to run for MP in party-list mode while 107 others have been disqualified.

A total of 500 MPs will be elected, including 350 MPs in individual constituency mode and 150 others in party-list mode.

Meanwhile, a total of 68 candidates have been verified by the polling agency to run for prime minister, including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has been named by the Palang Pracharath Party, and former prime minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.