BANGKOK, March 15: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Wednesday he may consider stepping aside temporarily to end Thailand’s political crisis, as the top election official warned that snap polls called for next month could be delayed.

Mr Thaksin called the April 2 poll three years early in hopes of ending weeks of political turmoil, but he remains the target of mass street protests calling for his resignation.

For the first time on Wednesday, he indicated that he was willing to consider a proposal from academics and business leaders that he step aside long enough to allow for constitutional reforms sought by the opposition.

“If there is anyone who could work instead of me, I would not cling to my position,” he said.

The top election official cast doubt on whether the election could proceed as planned following a boycott by major opposition parties, saying 320 candidates had been banned from running and another 84 could also be disqualified.

“It’s not a simple decision but we will hold consultations soon. There are many factors to support moving the election date,” Election Commission chief Vasana Puemlarp told reporters, saying a decision should come by Monday.—AFP