(Bloomberg) -- Pro-democracy allies of exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and the current prime minister,Prayuth Chan-Ocha, were among 68 candidates cleared to run in Thailand’s first election since the 2014 military coup, according to the Election Commission late Friday.

Leading parties chose their representatives weeks ago, but Thailand’s election rules require that candidates be approved by the commission, based on a list of character and other requirements. Prayuth, the junta leader who seized power from a government led by Thaksin’s sister, was cleared to run in next month’s contest.

Sudarat Keyuraphan, Chadchart Sittipunt and Chaikasem Nitisiri from the Thaksin-linked Pheu Thai party also won approval, along with former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Thai Raksa Chart, another opposition party connected to Thaskin, didn’t field any candidates, after King Maha Vajiralongkorn this month rejected the party’s shock pick of his sister, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya.

Also late Friday, a court lifted a broadcasting ban imposed on Voice TV, a Thaksin-linked station, as it considers the merits of a 15-day shutdown handed down by a government regulator.

To contact the reporter on this story: Suttinee Yuvejwattana in Bangkok at suttinee1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Niluksi Koswanage at nkoswanage@bloomberg.net, Jason Clenfield, Natnicha Chuwiruch

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