DHAKA: Thailand’s military government said on Monday that it had begun an overhaul of the electoral system following an announcement by junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha that polls could take place by late 2015.

The military took power on May 22 in a bloodless coup following six months of street demonstrations that contributed to the ousting of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

A court had already ordered her to step down after finding her guilty of abuse of power on May 7.

Permanent Secretary for Defence Surasak Kanchanarat said political party reform, decentralisation of power and ‘investigations and penalties for those groups that commit electoral fraud’ were top on the military’s agenda, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1748 HRS, JUNE 30, 2014