The Thai Sang Thai (Thais Build Thais) Party led by veteran politician Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan is fielding former government spokesman Sita Divari as its candidate for Bangkok governor, according to a party source.
Khunying Sudarat, chairwoman of Thai Sang Thai, has settled on Sqn Ldr Sita to compete in the May 22 election, the source said.
A press conference will be held on March 30 to announce his bid for the governorship and the party’s candidates contesting the city council elections, tentatively scheduled to take place on the same day.
The council elections will be held across all 50 districts in the capital.
Sqn Ldr Sita, 59, currently chairs the party’s development committee. He previously served as an MP of the now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party. The former government spokesman during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration also served as chairman of the Airports of Thailand Plc.
If his candidacy is confirmed by the party, he will join other high-profile politicians in the election race for Bangkok governor.
Among them are Sakoltee Phattiyakul, who resigned on March 7 as deputy Bangkok governor to run as an independent; former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt; Suchatvee Suwansawat, nominated by the Democrat Party; Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, picked by the Move Forward Party; and Rossana Tositrakul.
Mr Chadchart and Ms Rossana will also run as independents.
The Election Commission (EC) is set to cap election campaign expenses for each candidate at 49 million baht, according to a commission source.
The expenses will be calculated from the day the EC officially announces the election date to the day of the election.
The EC is set on Friday to announce May 22 as the date for the elections of Bangkok governor and Pattaya City mayor and members. The commission will also schedule candidacy registration for March 31 to April 4, according to the source. Eligible candidates must be at least 35 years old on election day.
