PPRP eyes Bangkok governor race despite resounding defeat in by-election
Ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)’s chief MP for Bangkok said the defeat in Sunday’s by-election will not affect the party’s plan to contest in the Bangkok gubernatorial race.
Chakkraphan Phonnimitr, chairman of the PPRP committee of Bangkok MPs, said on Sunday that each Bangkok election was different, so the party still has a chance to prove that it wants to serve Bangkokians.
PPRP candidate Saranrat Jenjaka received just 7,906 votes, compared to 29,416 won by Pheu Thai’s Surachart Thianthong.
Chakkraphan said he was sorry Saranrat lost, but added that the party will analyse the defeat and learn from it. He also thanked those who voted for the PPRP candidate.
“We believe Bangkokians still support us. We just have to discuss [a new strategy for] future elections,” Chakkraphan said.
“This will not affect the party’s plan to contest the Bangkok governor election. I believe Bangkokians will use different reasoning when voting for a new governor.”
The gubernatorial elections are expected to be held by mid this year. PPRP initially planned to field Pathum Thani governor Narongsak Osottanakorn but the plan was dropped when the governor said he had no ambition to run the capital. The party has yet to decide on a replacement.
