Sudarat leads city governor head hunt

The Pheu Thai Party has instructed its chief strategist, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, to find a candidate for Bangkok governor, and she plans to approach former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt.

Pheu Thai leader Sompong Amornvivat yesterday denied reports the party would field Khunying Sudarat as its candidate in the coming election for the city’s governor. He told a press conference the party had agreed to have Khunying Sudarat find its candidate.

“Khunying Sudarat will supervise selection because she has a good understanding of Bangkok’s problems, and has worked for the people of Bangkok for a long time,” Mr Sompong said.

Khunying Sudarat would also select Pheu Thai’s candidates in polls for other local bodies in the capital, the party leader said. He denied the party was limiting her role in Pheu Thai.

Khunying Sudarat said she would first approach Mr Chadchart, a former key party figure, to run as the party’s governor candidate. He was capable, and had been the party’s candidate for prime minister. Other senior executives in the private sector may also be considered.

However, Mr Chadchart had earlier declared he was interested in running for governor as an independent, although he said he would make a final decision on the matter closer to the election, expected later this year.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who previously headed the junta-led government that cancelled all local elections, said recently some local polls could be held this year.

Khunying Sudarat said Pheu Thai previously had more than 200 Bangkok councilors and district councillors who served their respective district residents well and claimed this track record would give the party an advantage in the governor poll. She said Pheu Thai’s choice of governor must be someone who understands the new world order and has the courage to implement changes which will improve the lives of Bangkok’s residents.

Mr Sompong, meanwhile, dismissed reports that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra wanted Khunying Sudarat to run for Bangkok governor. He said Thaksin had nothing to do with Pheu Thai.