New Delhi, Feb. 9 -- The Bhumjaithai party of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul took a commanding lead in Thailand's general election Sunday, with about 93% of polling stations having reported, according to unofficial results from the state Election Commission.

The commission's running count, shown on its website, indicated that the conservative Bhumjaithai party won about 194 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives.

A simple majority of 251 seats is needed for the body to elect a prime minister to form a new government. The figures appear to make that total unreachable for Bhumjaithai, in which case it would have to seek partners in a coalition government.

The progressive People's Party, which had been tipped to win the most...