Independent candidates in Bangkok’s gubernatorial election, Chadchart Sittipunt and former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, are ramping up their campaigns, nearly two weeks ahead of the highly anticipated election, with the former focusing on convincing undecided voters.
The former transport minister attached to the Pheu Thai party who is leading in recent polls, Chadchart insists that he is running as an independent candidate and has been campaigning without support from any political party or party members.
He admitted, however, that he has received support from various groups who do not have political affiliations.
He also said that he will increase his communication with senior citizens, to convey his ideas and plans for how Bangkok should be developed to become the regional centre of creative economic development and health-related tourism.
Another independent candidate, former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, told residents in Phra Khanong district of his plan to increase the number of fire stations in Bangkok, from the current 50 to about 90 so that a fire truck would be able to reach the scene of a fire within eight minutes.
He said Singapore, which is small in size compared to Bangkok, has about 70 fire stations.
He also told people, during his visit to markets, that flooding, which has been a chronic problem in the district, will be substantially eased when the sluice gate is completed in readiness for this year’s rainy season.
He said the gate, the construction of which began during his tenure as the city’s governor, will allow water from Nong Bon swamp to flow via an underground pipe into the Phra Khanong Canal.
The May 22 Bangkok gubernatorial election will be the first in nine years.
