Sudarat won't run for Bangkok governor: aide

Former Bangkok MP Sudarat Keyuraphan has reportedly ruled out a bid for the Bangkok governor's job after the current office-holder's term ends next January.

Banned politician Sita Thiwaree, formerly of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party and a close aide of Sudarat, told Thairath Online that Sudarat insisted to him she had never thought about registering as a candidate in the gubernatorial election, despite local Pheu Thai politicians' desire for her to run.

"They believe Sudarat could win the election. And if she won, it would boost the political base for the ruling party in Bangkok," he said.

Sita said Sudarat believed that other potential candidates such as Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudit Nakornthap and party-list MP Yuranan Pamornmontri were interesting choices. The party's executive board will make the final decision.

He said he did not know why Sudarat went to meet fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Beijing last week. But he did not think it was about the governor's election. If they wanted to talk about the matter they could just call each other, he said.