Thai PM dismisses calls for resignation ahead of elections

Bangkok, Dec 20 (IANS) Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday dismissed calls for his resignation ahead of February's general election.Prayut told reporters at the Government House that he will stay on as head of government and chief of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order despite persistent calls for him to step down during the run up to the nationwide election, scheduled for February 24, Xinhua news agency reported.He called on his critics to stop asking him to quit until the end of the electoral campaign during which he will almost certainly be pitted as the top candidate for post-election Prime Minister by the Palang Pracharath Party, from which he has four members of his Cabinet.Prayut came to power after the 2014 coup staged by the military junta under his command as Army chief. He set up an un-elected government after the coup.
--IANS soni/bg