Thai demonstrators protest alleged cheating in election

A military-backed party and its main rival tied to a self-exiled billionaire have both claimed the right to lead the government as inconsistent tallies released by the Election Commission have raised suspicion among voters.The junta-aligned Phalang Pracharat party clinched the popular vote but its rival Pheu Thai -- linked to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- has formed a coalition claiming a majority of seats in the lower house.Full results will be ratified by May 9 but anger has mounted as the wait continues, prompting demonstrations at two Bangkok landmarks. A small but spirited group gathered near the tourist hotspot Erawan Shrine holding a banner that read "Cheating Election" and "People Want to Vote".It featured the face of 2014 coup leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who is standing as the prime ministerial candidate for Phalang Pracharat."It is the Pheu Thai party which won the election," organiser and activist Anurak Jeantawanich said.Demonstrators were collecting signatures for a petition to demand the dismissal of Election Commission members, who have conceded some errors in tabulation but stand by the latest figures.Other protesters huddled near Bangkok's Victory Monument.As of Sunday, a separate change.org petition calling for the commission members to be sacked had garnered more than 800,000 signatures online.With parliamentary seats yet to be confirmed, both sides are engaged in a furious bout of horsetrading to convince smaller non-aligned parties to join them.But the overall math favours the junta under rules it wrote.The senate or upper house will be made up of 250 military-appointed members who get to cast votes for prime minister.That means the anti-junta parties need 376 lawmakers -- more than half the seats -- in the lower house to override that advantage and pick their own candidate.Analysts are predicting a deadlock scenario where Prayut is leader but Pheu Thai commands a lower house majority.Parties affiliated with billionaire ex-premier Thaksin have won every election since 2001, but this election has seen new faces emerge in Thailand's fractious political landscape.Millennial-oriented newcomer Future Forward finished third in the popular vote and has joined the coalition with Pheu Thai.