Thai police have said an anti-government protest leader was killed and at least five others were injured on January 26 in Bangkok.

Suthin Tharathin was shot dead while speaking before a crowd, according to a spokesperson for the protesters.

Despite a state of emergency decree introduced a week ago, the January 26 advance vote ahead of the scheduled general election took place in chaos. Protesters descended on scores of polling stations in Bangkok and several southern provinces, stopping ballot officials from entering the venues and preventing voters from practicing their rights.

According to Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakhaikul, 45 out of a total 50 election stations in Bangkok had to close, while the advance voting in 10 provinces were also disrupted by the protesters.

Meanwhile, head of Bangkok’s election commission Veera Yeephare announced that those who registered to cast their votes on January 26 can still join the February 2 poll.

The National Election Commission (EC) plans to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on January 28 to discuss the possibility of delaying the election. A source from the Thai Government said PM Yingluck will consider the postponement if the opposition pledges to stop demonstrations and allow a new election to take place at a later date.

Earlier, the Thai Constitutional Court ruled that the February 2 election may be legally delayed.-VNA