Exit polls in Thailand are showing the party allied to ousted Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra winning in a landslide.

Contrary to pre-election polls and analysis that predicted a tight race, Yingluck Shinawatra's Pheu Thai party won an absolute majority in parliament. Ms. Yingluck is Mr. Thaksin's younger sister.

Three exit polls show the Pheu Tai party taking more than 290 of the 500 seats.

The big loser appears to be the ruling Democrats led by incumbent Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Thailand has been deeply divided since the kingdom's military staged a bloodless coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

The elections were the nation's first since anti-government protests by the former prime minister's supporters last year led to clashes in which more than 90 people died.