Thai election commission begins probe into ruling Phue Thai party, media report

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Election Commission will launch an investigation into the ruling Pheu Thai party that could lead to its dissolution, multiple local media outlets reported on Friday.

The Election Commission has set up a committee to look into complaints against the party that alleged it allowed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to influence or direct party activities, media reported, citing unidentified sources.

The probe into Pheu Thai comes months after Move Forward - the country's former main opposition party that won last year's election - was dissolved by court order in August, following an investigation by the Election Commission.

Thaksin returned to Thailand last year in a dramatic homecoming after 15 years in self-exile, the same day his political ally Srettha Thavisin became prime minister.

In August, Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 38, became premier after the Constitutional Court removed Srettha from office.

Under Thai law, parties cannot be influenced by outsiders. If the investigation finds wrongdoing, the complaint will be sent to the Constitutional Court to consider.

Sawang Boonmee, the Election Commission's secretary-general, did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

In a long-running power struggle with rivals in the conservative establishment and royalist military, the Pheu Thai party and its predecessors have seen five premiers - including Thaksin and his sister Yingluck - removed by court order or coups.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng, Editing by Kim Coghill)