BANGKOK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's top election official said Monday that April 2 polls probably may not fill all the seats in parliament, casting doubt on whether a new prime minister could take office.

    Election Commission secretary general Ekachai Waroonprapa said the votes Sunday probably may not fill all 500 seats, as required by law for parliament to confirm a new prime minister.

    "It is likely that we will not get enough members of parliament after the election, because only a small number of candidates are running," Ekachai told a local television.

    "We have prepared several options to prepare for whatever the election results are," he said.

    Ekachai spoke as he headed into a meeting of the Election Commission, which is expected to finalize preparations for Sunday's vote and to hammer details of how to respond if the results fail to produce a full parliament.

    The election has already been barred by an opposition boycott and allegations of fraud.

    The commission has barred about one third of the 941 candidates for failing to meet minimum requirements to run. Enditem