Sukhumbhand is democrats' choice for bangkok governor

Deputy party leader Korn Chatikavanij, another leading candidate, withdrew from the race yesterday at the suggestion of certain senior party figures, according to a source.

The party has confidence in Sukhumbhand and expects him to win the trust of Bangkok voters, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday while announcing the decision by the executive committee.

"We are confident in the will and capacity of our candidate to win this election. I'd like to ask Bangkok voters to continue supporting the party," he said.

Abhisit, also the opposition leader, said the party aimed to pursue its goal and continue the unfinished work of former governor Apirak Kosayodhin, another deputy Democrat leader.

Apirak stepped down just one month after being re-elected in early October. He was indicted by the National Anti-Corruption Commis-sion for irregularities in the fire-vehicle purchase scandal. Apirak described his resignation as a demonstration of political etiquette and said he would prove his innocence in court.

The new election, expected in early January, is to fill the vacant seat.

Korn called a press conference yesterday to announce his withdrawal from the race to be the Democrat candidate. He said the three other candidates were suitable. He also said that as a Bangkok MP his contesting the governor election would make it necessary to hold another by-election for his parliamentary seat.

Earlier yesterday Korn was spotted having serious discussions with Abhisit before the executive board began its meeting to select the party candidate. He later left party headquarters looking grim.

The party executive board considered the four short-listed candidates: Sukhumbhand, Korn, former ambassador Kasit Pirom, and Kaewsan Atibodhi, former member of the Assets Examination Committee, before coming up with the decision.

Abhisit yesterday thanked Kaewsan, who is not a party member, for proposing himself as the Democrat candidate. "He is welcome to work with us in the future," he said.

However, Kaewsan, a law professor, said yesterday that he would contest the governor's election as an independent candidate. He said he would unveil his team members and policy platform soon.