Armed with what it thought was a watertight new Constitution, Thailand's five-year-old military government held a general election in March. It ushered into power a precarious 19-party coalition led by the Palang Pracharath Party, which had branded itself closely with coup leader turned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Even with new, far-reaching election rules designed ostensibly to curb external interference, the March 24 vote threw up surprises.