Mom Krom Bids Farewell to 'Big Pom,' Announces Independent Candidacy for Bangkok Governor, Confident He Can Compete Against Chumphot's Wave

M.L. Korkrit Kesamri, the independent candidate for Bangkok governor, announced on May 24 that he met with General Prawit Wongsuwan, advisor to the Palang Pracharath Party, to decide on his independent candidacy. Kesamri stated he has consulted with various parties because running independently requires understanding that the BMA operates across the political spectrum, and he wants to communicate and work seamlessly with all sides.

"General Prawit encouraged me to move forward with the work and gave his blessing. He is no longer involved in politics," Kesamri said.

Kesamri noted that running independently allows him to fully address policy questions without constraints from any political party. Everything voters see on stage comes from his heart, and he genuinely wants to solve Bangkok's problems. His entire team consists of highly capable individuals.

When asked if he is confident he can compete against Chumphot Sidhiphan, the former Bangkok governor who enjoys high popularity, Kesamri said that while Chumphot had four years to work, he believes he can expand and build on previous achievements. Many projects credited to Chumphot, such as Traffy Fondue, were actually initiated by former governor Aswin Kwanmuang in 2018 but became famous during Chumphot's term.

"Chumphot's popularity is good because he has worked before, but I want people to understand we are facing crises in energy, conflict, and economy. Today we need someone who works beyond just managing district affairs—we need a military strategist who can navigate us through these crises. I believe the worst is yet to come, and we will face increasing problems. Therefore, we should give the opportunity to someone who sees these issues clearly, has solutions, and is ready to work for Bangkok," Kesamri concluded.