Chadchart takes aim at Bangkok governor’s seat – without Pheu Thai

Chadchart is believed to be among backers of a new political group called Thai Move, which includes both academics and representatives of different political parties and varying ideologies. Its intent is said to be revising national policy to cope with a fast-changing world.
The group plans to jump into the Bangkok gubernatorial election and bring about changes in Thai politics.
No date for the election has been contemplated, but it may be settled after Parliament approves a budget for fiscal 2020 early next year. The Office of the Election Commission of Thailand has requested Bt1.8 billion to cover the cost of nationwide elections for 97,940 administrative and legislative posts.
Associate Professor Chadchart “Trip” Sittipunt, 53, is the first to announce an intention to run for governor of Bangkok and immediately garnered praise on social media.
He served as transport minister in the Yingluck Shinawatra administration and was previously an assistant to the rector of Chulalongkorn University and a lecturer in engineering at the school, from which he graduated in engineering with first-class honours.
He also has a master’s degree in the same subject from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, a master’s in business administration from Chula and a PhD in engineering from the University of Illinois, also in the US.
He joined the Thaksin Shinawatra government as an adviser to the transport minister, became deputy minister in 2012 under Yingluck, and finally minister.
The Prayut Chan-o-cha government appointed Chadchart to the National Strategy Committee in September 2017, but he resigned within days, quoting strategy guru Michael Porter in saying, “The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.”
Pheu Thai named Chadchart, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan and Chaikasem Nitisiri as its candidates for premier in the election last March, but Chadchart did not seek a designation as a party-list MP, saying he was not good at legislative work.
Observers believe he is leaving Pheu Thai behind to run for governor as an independent because he does not want to be seen as a Thaksin surrogate in the Bangkok poll. Thaksin is commonly believed to control Pheu Thai.
Regardless, Chachart will confront the popularity in the capital of the Future Forward Party, which in the general election won 804,272 of the 3.2 million votes cast in 30 Bangkok constituencies.
Chadchart’s entry as an independent suggests that Pheu Thai will field no gubernatorial candidates under its banner. Future Forward is expected to do so, with its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, earlier expressing confidence that the city would pick a Future Forward governor.
Bangkok, Thailand’s largest city and financial engine, is a major electoral battleground for the parties. Chadchart brings a reputation as a seasoned administrator and strong former Cabinet minister, but the challenge could prove daunting.