The charismatic Pita had led pre-election opinion polls as Thailand's top choice for prime minister but faced a host of legal and legislative challenges that he maintains were orchestrated to keep him from power.

Parliament has twice blocked the Harvard-educated Pita from becoming prime minister which his supporters say was due to unfair rules.

Parliament's move to deny Pita Limjareonrat after a marathon debate on his eligibility triggered angry street protests, as a post-election crisis deepens after his party trounced military-backed rivals in an election.

Pita will contest a parliamentary vote on the premiership for the second time, after failing to win the required backing of more than half of the legislature.

The leader of Move Forward was unopposed in the contest but struggled to muster the required support of more than half of 749-member the bicameral parliament, despite the backing of his eight-party alliance.

The cases against Move Forward are the latest twist in a two-decade struggle for power in Thailand fraught with coups, court interventions and crippling street protests.

Move Forward in a statement accused the election commission of rushing its referral of the case and said Pita should have been given a chance to respond and refute the allegations.

Pita faces an uncertain path to the premiership despite scoring a stunning victory in May's election that saw Thais reject nearly nine years of military-backed government.

Pita has faced multiple complaints from rivals, three of which the poll body has dismissed for late submission, while four others against the party have been thrown out.