Ex-police chief opts out of Bangkok’s gubernatorial race

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

FORMER POLICE CHIEF Chakthip Chaijinda today (Nov. 1) opted out of Bangkok’s gubernatorial election which would otherwise pit him against a fellow police general, incumbent Governor Aswin Kwanmuang.

Chakthip told some 50 candidates who will contest for members of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council that he has decided to drop out of the race for Bangkok Governor otherwise he said he would certainly vie against the incumbent governor Aswin despite their closely-intertwined fraternal relationship and that he finally preferred not to.

Aswin, named by the 2014 military junta as Bangkok governor, is said to have already decided to contest the gubernatorial race, speculated early next year.

Meanwhile, sources said Palang Pracharath party secretary-general Thammanat Prompow has been largely inclined to endorse Aswin as favourite candidate for Bangkok governor, prompting Chakthip to opt out.

Chakthip would as well prefer to not embarrass Palang Pracharath party leader Prawit Wongsuwan as far as the incumbent governor was concerned.

However, the largest coalition partner in government would likely find some other political role for the former police chief to play instead, they said.

Another favourite for Bangkok governor is former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt, who will likely run as a non-partisan candidate.

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Former police chief Chakthip Chaijinda. Photos: Matichon