Former senator and consumer protection campaigner Rosana Tositrakul has announced her intention to compete in the forthcoming Bangkok governor’s election as an independent candidate.

Speaking at the launch of her campaign on Friday, Ms. Rosana asked for a chance to prove her worth at the City Hall, saying that she won the highest number of votes as Bangkok senator in 2008.

Then she told the audience of her past performance and her roles in several court cases, such as the 1.4 billion baht corruption case concerning medical procurement, the plan for the privatization of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the successful bid to prevent foreign companies applying for cannabis patents and the campaign for the ban on three hazardous farm chemicals.

Ms. Rosana promised to try to solve Bangkok’s chronic problems, such as flooding, congestion, illegal occupation of sidewalks by traders and PM2.5 dust particles in the air.

Another independent candidate for gubernatorial election will be former transport minister and former Pheu Thai MP Chadchart Sitthipant.

Meanwhile, incumbent Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said he had not yet decided whether he would run again and was not worried with the early announcements of the candidature of the two independents.

The Pheu Thai party and the Democrat party, which have dominated the City Hall for many years, are yet to announce their candidates. The newer Future Forward party is also likely to join the race.