Bangkok governor likely to resign Jan 9

BANGKOK, January 8 (TNA) - Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra is expected to step down on January 9, one day before his first four-year tenure ends, paving the way for a new gubernatorial election. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Spokesman Wasan Meewong told journalists on Tuesday that M.R. Sukhumbhand is likely to tender his official resignation letter to Permanent Secretary for BMA Ninnat Chalitanont on Wednesday, after he reports to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to hear a charge against him concerning his allegedly pre-emptive awarding of a 30-year concession extension to Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTS), the operation of the skytrain system in the capital. Wasan revealed that M.R. Sukhumbhand, who is chosen by the main opposition Democrat Party as a candidate running in the forthcoming gubernatorial election for his second term, informed his decision on the early resignation at a meeting of his party’s executive board Tuesday morning. According to the spokesman, the BMA's permanent secretary, who will then become caretaker Bangkok governor, is to inform to the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) of Sukhumbhand's resignation and the EC is legally required to organize the new gubernatorial poll within 60 days, or by March 3, 2013. The spokesman said that the official registration for candidates contesting in the upcoming gubernatorial election is expected to be opened from January 21-25, 2012. (TNA)