The Opposition has won an election landslide in Thailand as counting confirms exit polls that say Yingluck Shinawatra, a political novice, is likely to become the country's first female prime minister.
Polling ended at 3pm when the count began, with interest on Phuket centring on whether the Democrat Party can hold the two elected seats on the island.
Halfway into the count, it appeared as though the Democrats would hang on to the two seats on Phuket, retaining Phuket's reputation as a Democrat fortress. All 14 southern provinces seem set to remain in Democrat hands.
Nationwide, the picture was very different. More than three hours into the count, Pheu Thai held a majority of the national vote, meaning it can govern alone without needing to form a coalition.
The Wall Street Journal was among overseas newspapers reporting that Khun Yingluck appeared set for victory.
An exit poll by Bangkok's Suan Dusit University, considered the most historically reliable, showed Pheu Thai winning 313 seats with present Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party taking just 152. Assumption University in Bangkok put the number of seats won by the opposition at 299.
Television showed Ms Yingluck, younger sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, swarmed by flashing cameras and journalists after exit polls showed her Pheu Thai (For Thais) party winning a clear majority of the 500 seats in parliament.
"Let's wait for the official results. I will tell you how I feel tonight," she told cheering supporters.
A large mandate to govern could make it easier to navigate a way out of out of the political crisis that has plagued Thailand since Khun Thaksin was overthrown in a military coup five years ago, the Wall Street Journal said.
Khun Thaksin was reported as saying from exile in Dubai: ''All parties must respect the people's decision otherwise our country cannot achieve peace.''
Analysts and legal experts say precedents suggest the courts could ultimately dictate who holds political power in the months after the election.
The red shirts have rallied around Khun Yingluck and accuse Khun Abhisit of being a puppet of the army amid grievances that have simmered since a 2006 military coup overthrew her brother.
According to some reports, Britain's Daily Telegraph says, the Pheu Thai camp had been in talks with the generals to find some way of working together should it emerge victorious.
Pheu Thai would be allowed to govern and the military top brass would remain in place, with early reshuffles limited to middle ranks.
About 47.3 million eligible voters across Thailand are choosing 500 members of the House of Representatives, or the lower house - 375 members from single-seat constituencies and another 125 from party-list category.
The Election Commission of Thailand expected unofficial results to become plain sometime before 10pm today as counting continues.
Halfway into the count, it appeared as though the Democrats would hang on to the two seats on Phuket, retaining Phuket's reputation as a Democrat fortress. All 14 southern provinces seem set to remain in Democrat hands.
Nationwide, the picture was very different. More than three hours into the count, Pheu Thai held a majority of the national vote, meaning it can govern alone without needing to form a coalition.
The Wall Street Journal was among overseas newspapers reporting that Khun Yingluck appeared set for victory.
An exit poll by Bangkok's Suan Dusit University, considered the most historically reliable, showed Pheu Thai winning 313 seats with present Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party taking just 152. Assumption University in Bangkok put the number of seats won by the opposition at 299.
Television showed Ms Yingluck, younger sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, swarmed by flashing cameras and journalists after exit polls showed her Pheu Thai (For Thais) party winning a clear majority of the 500 seats in parliament.
"Let's wait for the official results. I will tell you how I feel tonight," she told cheering supporters.
A large mandate to govern could make it easier to navigate a way out of out of the political crisis that has plagued Thailand since Khun Thaksin was overthrown in a military coup five years ago, the Wall Street Journal said.
Khun Thaksin was reported as saying from exile in Dubai: ''All parties must respect the people's decision otherwise our country cannot achieve peace.''
Analysts and legal experts say precedents suggest the courts could ultimately dictate who holds political power in the months after the election.
The red shirts have rallied around Khun Yingluck and accuse Khun Abhisit of being a puppet of the army amid grievances that have simmered since a 2006 military coup overthrew her brother.
According to some reports, Britain's Daily Telegraph says, the Pheu Thai camp had been in talks with the generals to find some way of working together should it emerge victorious.
Pheu Thai would be allowed to govern and the military top brass would remain in place, with early reshuffles limited to middle ranks.
About 47.3 million eligible voters across Thailand are choosing 500 members of the House of Representatives, or the lower house - 375 members from single-seat constituencies and another 125 from party-list category.
The Election Commission of Thailand expected unofficial results to become plain sometime before 10pm today as counting continues.
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