Outgoing Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has cemented his position as the voters' favourite to win a second term, according to a Suan Dusit poll released on Sunday.
Mr Chadchart, standing for re-election as an independent, comfortably maintained his lead in the latest survey, with 57.68% support from respondents, a tiny increase of about one basis point on the previous poll.
Chaiwat Sathawornwichichit of the People's Party remained in second place with 17.9% support, a drop of one percentage point, while former city councilor Komsan Panwichartkul was third at 4.75%, an increase from 3.07% in the first survey.
The loser in the second poll was former journalist Malika Boonmetrakool Mahasook, whose popularity plunged to 2.70% from 5.78%.
Anucha Burapachaisri of the Democrat Party debuted with 1.87% approval, ahead of academic ML Kornkasiwat Kasemsri who won 1.53%, up from 1.30% in the previous survey.
Mr Charchart, Mr Komsan, Ms Malika and ML Kornkasiwat are all running as independent candidates in the election for Bangkok governor set for June 28. Mr Chardchart was previously linked to the Pheu Thai Party and served as minister of transport from 2012 to 2014.
The percentage of undecided voters was around 13% in the two surveys, conducted two weeks apart.
The outgoing Bangkok governor appeared to be riding high on his depth of experience - with 36.39% of voters in the survey saying they prefer a candidate who knows the problems facing Bangkok and is ready to perform after the election.
Mr Chadchart resigned last Monday as Bangkok governor to attend his son’s graduation ceremony at Cornell University in the United States, and to prepare his bid for re-election as an independent.
The People's Party still led the contest for the Bangkok City Council with 35.20% backing, followed by independent candidates at 26.55%.
Many independent candidates running in the contest have pledged support for Mr Chadchart if they are elected to the council.
The second poll by Suan Dusit University questioned 1,179 eligible voters online and onsite from May 19-22.
