Former national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda is insisting he will contest the Bangkok governor election in October, despite considering himself as an "underdog".
"I am drafting the campaign's policy by myself," Pol Gen Chakthip said.
"My campaign promises will not be pipe dreams, they will be doable and tangible projects," he told the media on Saturday after attending a charity event for students in Nong Chok district, one of largest constituencies in the capital.
The event was attended by MPs from the Palang Pracharath Party, such as Siripong Rasamee of the Nong Chok constituency and Charnvit Vipoosiri of the Min Buri constituency.
The presence of the PPRP MPs at the event again raised the question about who the party would nominate for the governor election in October.
At the event yesterday, Pol Gen Chakthip said he never asked PPRP leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon to nominate him as the party's candidate, despite being "close" to the deputy prime minister. "I am not a member of the PPRP so it is not my business who the party will nominate," he said.
Big names from the national stage reportedly pledged to contest in the much anticipated election. Among them are former Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul and former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt.
Taya Teepsuwan, who served as deputy Bangkok governor under MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, had also expressed an interest in standing for the election under the PPRP. Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, Ms Taya's husband, reportedly lobbied Gen Prawit to have the party endorse her. Incumbent Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang is reportedly waiting for the party's endorsement.
Pol Gen Chakthip is distancing himself from the party. Yesterday he called himself an underdog among heavy-weight contenders. "I might lose because I am quite a rookie in terms of politics," he said.
"Even more, Bangkok voters might be tired of [having a police official] as their governor as the current Bangkok governor is also former police."