Candidates for gubernatorial election continue campaigns

BANGKOK, January 19 (TNA) - As a five-day registration for candidates wishing to contest in the next gubernatorial election starts on January 21, candidates Saturday continued to woo votes from eligible voters in the Thai capital. Accompanied by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as well as ministers and senior officials of the ruling Puea Thai Party, Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, former secretary-general of Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), talked to people while they were exercising inside Lumpini Park in central Bangkok. Yingluck told journalists that her Pheu Thai Party's campaign for the upcoming gubernatorial election, set on March 3, 2012, focuses on creating safety for people and green areas, as well as expanding WiFi technology in several areas in the capital. Police General Pongsapat then said he is stressing on building a “Green City” and more parks during his campaign. Other candidates contesting the upcoming Bangkok Governor's election, including former Bangkok M.R Sukhumbhand Paribatra from the main Democrat Party, have also now launched their campaigns for the March 3 gubernatorial poll. Meanwhile, a latest poll conducted by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University has shown that almost half of Bangkok residents want to have a governor who is good, honest and moral and has a good image. According to the Dusit Poll, conducted on 1,215 eligible voters in the Thai capital from January 14-18, most of the respondents, or 39.42 per cent, said they would vote for a governor with such the qualities, while 38.69 per cent of them expressed their support for a governor who is hardworking and self-sacrificing and can deliver their promises and 21.89 per cent of them wanted to have a governor who has a good work profile, and experiences and knowledge about Bangkok’s problems. Asked how they could be convinced to vote for a Bangkok governor candidate, the poll showed 47.29 per cent of the respondents said a decisive candidate’s policy, particularly on the management of traffic congestion and floods, followed by a candidate’s friendliness and regular visit to people at 18.41 percent, candidate’s fairness in the election race at 14.34 percent and a candidate’s outstanding past achievement and visions at 12.98 percent. (TNA)