Former national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda's decision to forego his ambition to run for Bangkok governor was motivated by the ruling Palang Pracharath Party's (PPRP) waning support for his candidacy, according to a source in the party.
PPRP leader Prawit Wongsuwon insisted on Tuesday that neither he nor the party had anyone in mind for the role.
Although no date for the gubernatorial poll has been announced, the election is expected sometime next year.
The poll result will be seen as an indication of voters' preference for any particular political group or party.
Gen Prawit said the law bars a political party from being involved in or meddling in the governor's election. He flatly denied news reports PPRP was grooming a potential candidate for the job.
"The PPRP is not sending anyone to stand in the poll on its ticket," he said.
Pol Gen Chakthip has shown keen interest in taking the governor's office. The retired police chief handed out Songkran greeting cards with his picture to Bangkok residents in April. The cards were seen as a move to increase his visibility ahead of a run for the governorship.
Pol Gen Chakthip also reportedly formed his own political group, comprising 50 people who also plan to run for seats on the Bangkok city council in the near future.
The group's members were taken aback by his announcement on Monday that he would not contest the Bangkok gubernatorial poll, the source said.
The former top cop said he had decided to drop out after a phu-yai, or a senior figure, in the party that he respected asked him to pursue other political interests.
The source said Pol Gen Chakthip's group had not expected the former police chief to call it quits as he had been out in the constituencies meeting people on a regular basis.
The source disclosed that Pol Gen Chakthip bowed out after learning PPRP secretary-general Thamanat Prompow will field his own team of candidates for council positions.
The final straw for the former police chief was Capt Thamanat favouring incumbent Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang for the election.
The source said Pol Gen Chakthip was not afraid of competing with Chadchart Sittipunt, the former transport minister under the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, who is currently ahead in opinion polls.
He figured Mr Chadchart's support would be undercut by a candidate from a political group connected to Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, chairwoman of the new established Thai Sang Thai Party. Mr Chadchart and someone from Khunying Sudarat's party would be after the same pool of voters.
According to the source, the phu-yai met both Pol Gen Chakthip and Pol Gen Aswin in person recently. The senior figure chose Pol Gen Chakthip over Pol Gen Aswin as governor candidate, saying he was better suited for the job of leading Bangkok.
However, Pol Gen Aswin has said in public on a number of occasions that he will run for election, which made Pol Gen Chakthip feel awkward.
The source said that the PPRP had subsequently had a change of heart about Pol Gen Chakthip and feared losing ground in Bangkok if he failed to win the governorship.
