Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has not decided to nominate anyone as its candidate in the Bangkok gubernatorial race, after Pathum Thani governor Narongsak Osottanakorn announced he was neither eligible nor had the ambition to be the governor.
Gen Prawit, who is PPRP leader, said the party's executive committee will decide later if it will nominate another candidate.
"Several people have presented themselves to be our candidate. The party committee will make a decision," he said.
He added that as the gubernatorial election is expected to take place in the middle of next year, the party still have time to find a suitable candidate.
He also rejected rumours the party will not put up anyone to contest the election.
When asked for the reason behind PPRP's sudden decision to take part in the poll despite having previously announced it won't field any candidates in Bangkok, Gen Prawit said the party wanted to support a good person who can work well with the government to be the next Bangkok governor.
Asked what characteristics an ideal Bangkok governor should have, he said the person must be a good person, a visionary leader, honest and capable of improving people's well-being.
Gen Prawit also said the party has yet to conduct any opinion polls to gauge its popularity in Bangkok, which could serve as an indicator if the party should put anyone forward to be its candidate.
On Tuesday, Gen Prawit confirmed Mr Narongsak was ineligible to stand as he has not been a Bangkok resident long enough.
