Former university rector Suchatvee Suwansawat, a Democrat Party's candidate for the Bangkok governor election, says he did not mean to associate one of his former teachers in the United States with a famous scientist to boost his own campaign chances.
Mr Suchatvee sowed confusion by saying, "I am considered a direct descendant of [Albert] Einstein. The only one in Thailand."
He based this claim on the fact he was taught by a professor called Herbert Einstein while serving as a doctoral student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Mr Suchatvee was under the impression the professor was related to the famous German-born physicist, which was incorrect.
Out of curiosity, one media outlet emailed the professor who replied that he bore no relation to Albert Einstein.
In remarks issued after his policy statement on Monday, Mr Suchatvee said his seniors had led him to believe the two men were related, and he had been retelling this story for several years in the mistaken belief it was true.
"I didn't mean to use his reputation for political canvassing," said Mr Suchatvee.
He later referred to Twarath Sutabutr, chief inspector-general of the Energy Ministry who also graduated from MIT, claiming Mr Twarath was told the same story and also believed it to be true.
Boonchai Ukritchon, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering and another MIT alumni, heard the same story from a secretary at MIT's engineering programme, Mr Suchatvee claimed.
On Jan 16, Mr Suchatvee posted a photograph of himself with Herbert Einstein on his Facebook account to express his gratitude to his teacher on the occasion of Teachers' Day.