Chadchart Sittipunt, who intends to run as an independent in the next Bangkok governor election, has urged the government to keep its word and hold the poll in May.
"I thank the government for [tentatively] scheduling the election in May. I ask that it honours its word," he said.
Mr Chadchart, who was among the first to declare his intention to run for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's top post, said City Hall needs an elected governor to put the capital's affairs in order.
Many long-term issues affecting city residents need to be tackled. It is sometimes tough to make important decisions at City Hall because of the lack of an elected official, he said.
Mr Chadchart, a former transport minister in the Pheu Thai Party-led Yingluck Shinawatra administration, said being among the first to announce his election bid had both advantages and disadvantages.
While having more time to study Bangkok's problems, he said his team may exhaust themselves from having started campaigning early.
Mr Chadchart welcomed Pheu Thai's pledge to lend him its support but said he would prefer the party support his policies rather than him personally.
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said earlier the party would only enter the Bangkok governor race if it could field a better-qualified candidate than Mr Chadchart.
However, he said the party has yet to find someone who "ticks all the boxes".
Early this week, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda told the cabinet he expects the Bangkok governor election to go ahead in May, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.
The interior minister told the cabinet he would prefer to wait until the results of the tambon administrative organisation elections late last year were endorsed by the Election Commission (EC). He said any issues arising from those results should be ironed out before a vote for a new Bangkok governor takes place.
On Monday, the interior minister said the timing of the poll will be decided after discussions between the cabinet and the EC. A date will then be proposed to the cabinet for approval and the poll held within 60 days or by the end of May at the latest.
Meanwhile, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, the Move Forward Party's (MFP) pick for Bangkok governor, will resign as a party-list MP today as required by law to prepare for the contest, MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said yesterday.
