A total of 8,875 constituency and 1,103 party-list candidates have applied to contest the upcoming polls, Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said Thursday.

Applications were accepted from Monday and the deadline is Friday.
Constituency candidates from 73 parties and list candidates from 19 parties had registered as of Thursday afternoon. Also, 18 prime ministerial candidates were nominated by parties.
Mr Jarungvith said the EC was investigating complaints related to canvassing, including slanderous comments made against candidates on social media.
Defamation that occurs during an election can lead to a party being dissolved if it is found to be responsible.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva formally announced he was the party's sole candidate for prime minister. He is also first on the party's list of MP candidates.
The rest of the top 10 was filled by: former party leader Chuan Leekpai, another former party leader Banyat Bantadtan, veteran party member Therdpong Chaiyanant, former science and technology minister Khunying Kallaya Sophonpanich, deputy party leader Jurin Laksanavisit, deputy party leader Korn Chatikavanij, party secretary-general Juti Krairiksh, party adviser Ong-art Klampaiboon and deputy party leader Siriwan Pratsajaksatru.
Mr Abhisit said the party has used up its full quota of 150 candidates, but added it could expect to please everyone in terms of the rankings given.
He said it was hard to guess how the party would fare in the March 24 election. If the Democrat Party manages to defend its turf and retain the same support it received in the previous election, it will likely win 100 constituency seats and 40 list-MP places.
The Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT) Party also submitted a full list of 150 candidates Thursday. It also has candidates standing in all 350 constituencies nationwide, according to party leader MR Chatumongkol Sonakul.
However, it did not nominate any prime ministerial candidate.
MR Chatumongkol said the ACT is ready to support prime ministerial candidates proposed by other parties if it agrees with their choice.
He tops the ACT's list of candidates.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is due to announce whether he will accept a prime ministerial nomination by 10am Friday.