Thailand's Constitutional Court ordered a temporary suspension of prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat from parliament on Wednesday after accepting a case against him alleging he was unqualified to run in the May 14 election.

Pita has argued his ownership of shares in a media company was not a violation of election rules. He has 15 days to respond, the court said in a statement.

Pita's election-winning Move Forward Party said the suspension should not affect Pita's nomination for the prime ministerial vote, as a second round of voting is underway in Thailand's parliament to elect a new prime minister.

(With input from Reuters)