Pongsapat to contest city governor poll

Pongsapat to contest city governor poll

The Pheu Thai Party will field deputy police chief Pongsapat Pongcharoen as its candidate for the upcoming Bangkok governor election, a party source says.

Pol Gen Pongsapat also serves as secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

Earlier, Pheu Thai members were divided over who to nominate.

One group backed veteran politician Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan to carry Pheu Thai's flag while another favours Pol Gen Pongsapat. The election will be held next year.

According to the source, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has supervised campaign policies for the governor's election and screening of party candidates by herself.

Ms Yingluck said if the party's candidate was elected Bangkok governor, the city administration's policies could be brought into closer conformity with those of the government, said the source.

Pol Gen Pongsapat has gained the trust of ousted prime minister, and Pheu Thai de facto leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. The ONCB secretary-general is also perceived as being popular among Bangkok residents due to his contribution to social work and his drug suppression campaign, the source said.

He is expected to resign as national deputy chief and ONCB secretary-general soon.

If he loses the race, Pheu Thai executives have promised to help him return to his former posts or give him a key position on the board of a state enterprise or state agency, the source said.

The party plans to put up large billboards at more than 200 locations across Bangkok and distribute campaign stickers to the party's city and district councillors to help Pol Gen Pongsapat's campaign.

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